Zak strikes Zenith

India took a big step towards winning their first Test series in New Zealand since 1968 after racking up a 233-run lead early in their second innings of the third Test on Saturday.

Zaheer Khan celebrates the wicket of Jesse Ryder © AFP

The architect was none other than Zaheer Khan, who carried the burden of the senior most fast bowler on his shoulders and delivered the goods for his captain, as his two partners, Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel, failed to extract any assistance out of the Basin Reserve pitch. 

The most surprising aspect is the amount of late swing that Zaheer managed to generate, considering that one look at the pitch leaves the bowlers with a sad face, especially since the sun is shining strongly on New Zealand’s capital city.

Zaheer’s scalps, were Tim McIntosh (32), Martin Gutpill (17), Daniel Flynn (2), Jesse Ryder (3) and Tim Southee (16). The Bombay fast bowler took of his 7th career five-for and his second in New Zealand, and surprisingly his second at the Basin Reserve.

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor, who top-scored with 42, paid tribute to Khan, saying the 30-year-old opening bowler seemed more venomous than usual in taking his seventh five-wicket haul.

"He had an extra yard on him -- looking up at the screen it was his normal speed but he bent his back and hurried the batsmen up a little bit," Taylor said.

"He bowled extremely well.

Instances of Zaheer taking a five-for in Test cricket

Figures	Opponents	Venue	Season	Result (for India)
5-29	New Zealand	Hamilton	2002-03	Lost
5-34	Bangladesh	Mirpur	2007	Won
5-53	New Zealand	Wellington	2002-03	Lost
5-65	New Zealand	Wellington	2008-09	To be seen
5-75	England	Nottingham	2007	Won
5-91	Australia	Bangalore	2008-09	Drawn
5-95	Australia	Brisbane	2003-04	Drawn

Indian pacers with five-fors on New Zealand soil

Bowler	Figures	Venue	Season	Result (for India)
Zaheer Khan	5-29	Hamilton	2002-03	Lost
Zaheer Khan	5-53	Wellington	2002-03	Lost
Zaheer Khan	5-65	Wellington	2008-09	To be seen
Javagal Srinath	5-95	Hamilton	1998-99	Drawn
Madan Lal	5-134	Christchurch	1975-76	Drawn

Two phases of Zaheer’s Test career

	Mts	Wkts	Avg	SR	5WI
upto January 2006	42	121	36.35	65.79	3
Since making a comeback in Dec 2006	23	87	30.48	56.13	4

India’s most successful pacers on foreign soil

	Mts	Wkts	Best	Avg	SR	5/10
Kapil Dev	66	215	8-85	32.85	72.22	12/0
Zaheer Khan	41	147	5-29	32.12	56.23	6/0
Javagal Srinath	35	128	6-76	33.76	70.89	5/0
Irfan Pathan	15	73	7-59	25.57	44.41	7/2
Manoj Prabhakar	23	73	6-132	39.15	82.53	3/0
Venkatesh Prasad	22	69	5-60	36.46	73.10	5/1