Medium-pacer quadruples his career wickets tally in "surreal" bowling performance against Somerset
Five in 11 balls: 'Weird' spell from part-timer
Surrey's Ryan Patel picked up six wickets for just five runs, including a burst of five dismissals in 11 balls, in an extraordinary spell against Somerset on Thursday.
A No.4 batsman who can bowl some gentle medium-pace, Patel had just two career first-class wickets to his name when he was brought into the attack in the 54th over with Somerset reasonably placed at 4-169.
Less than 30 minutes later, they had been bowled out for just 180 and forced to follow on after Patel ripped through their middle and lower order to quadruple his career wickets tally and surprise even himself.
1⃣1⃣ balls5⃣ wicketsAn incredible flurry of wickets for Ryan Patel! 🔥 #SURvSOM pic.twitter.com/FTS1U2i6L0— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 21, 2018
"I don't think it's hit home how quickly that actually happened," the stunned 20-year-old said after play.
"That five in 11 (balls), it was ... weird."
The right-armer struck with his very first ball when opener Ed Byrom (52) offered no shot and was trapped in front to a ball that swung back into the left-hander.
Patel had Lewis Gregory caught at second slip to complete the over and then picked up a wicket with the first, fourth and fifth balls of his next over to complete the burst of five wickets in 11 deliveries.
His third over was a maiden and he picked up the final wicket of the innings with the penultimate delivery of his four over to finish with figures of 6-5 from 3.5 overs.
"It's all a bit surreal to be honest, I can hardly believe what's happened," he said.
"Our bowling coach Geoff Arnold keeps telling me to keep things simple and not to try and buy wickets.
"I got one with my first ball which gave me a lot of confidence and it was coming out really nicely, but I never expected to finish up with six wickets.
"When I went onto bowl all I was thinking about was keeping an end tied down and supporting Rikki Clarke, who was bowling beautifully for us."
While Patel claimed the spoils, former South African great Morne Morkel and former England quick Jade Dernbach went wicketless.
Australian Matthew Renshaw had earlier been the first Somerset batsman to fall, out for 39 after a 53-run opening stand with Byrom.