RECORD: Maharashtra bowler makes history in England, takes all 10 wickets in an innings

Shrikant Mundhe. (AFP file photo)     London: Maharashtra cricketer Shrikant Mundhe hit the headlines in England after taking all 10 wickets in an innings when he destroyed Birkenhead Park's batting at Penrhyn Avenue on Saturday. With this feat, Mundhe entered history books by becoming the first Liverpool Competition Premier League bowler to clinch all 10 wickets. Mundhe, who plays for Colwyn Bay, is only the 17th league player dating back to 1920 to claim a full house (10 wickets in an innings) and just the fifth since the standardisation of fixtures in domestic cricket in United Kingdom in 1949, according to British newspaper Daily Post. The 27-year-old Mahrashtra all-rounder also became the only man to achieve the feat since the Premier Division was formed in 1999. Despite Mundhe rocking the opposition with his bowling, Colwyn Bay could have lost the game and he had to come to the rescue of his team with the bat too. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Birkenhead Park, who are at the rock-bottom and face relegation after the season, were bowled out for 168 with right-arm seamer Mundhe collecting 10 for 85 off 24.1 overs – it took his season tally to 54 league wickets. But Colwyn Bay too lost wickets quickly and were struggling at 126 for 8 at one point. A last ditch efforts by Mundhe, who also ended up top-scoring for his side with an unbeaten innings of 44, took Colwyn Bay home with one wicket to spare. They were also helped by Jordan Evans’ 37 and Patrick Leach’s 30 early on. Mundhe has played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for now defunct Pune Warriors. After the game, Colwyn Bay Cricket Club’s member Brian Roberts recalled that it had been more than 35 years since a Bay bowler had managed to claim a 10-wicket haul. Mr. Roberts, who is the chairman of Sports Conwy and a director of Colwyn Bay Rugby Club said that Billy Lloyd, 76, and David Madoc-Jones, 75, had both taken a 10-for during their playing days. Interestingly, both the former players are still members of the cricket club.