New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme got his Test career off to a galloping start with a six-wicket haul on debut on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan in Christchurch on Friday.
De Grandhomme finished with figures of six for 41, the best by a Kiwi player on debut since Alex Moir who took 6-155 in 1951. The stunning debut helped New Zealand bowl Pakistan out for just 133 in 55.5 overs.
Another New Zealand debutant Jeet Raval (55 not out) also impressed, stroking a half century as he and Henry Nicholls (29 not out) helped New Zealand through to 104/3 at stumps in reply.
The 30-year-old de Grandhomme said he did not realise he had broken the record at the time, and it was only when somebody mentioned it in the changing room during the tea break that he became aware of the milestone.
“I just tried to put it in the area I wanted to bowl and they [Pakistan] managed to do their bit, so it’s all good,” de Grandhomme was quoted as saying by Stuff.co.nz.
With the first day getting washed out on Thursday, batting was never going to be easy when the teams returned on Friday. Cloudy conditions and a green wicket on offer did not make life any batter. The majority of Pakistan’s batsmen failed to apply themselves to the tricky conditions and threw away their wickets through loose shots. Captain Misbah ul-Haq’s 31 from 108 balls was the only innings of substance by a Pakistan player.