Navdeep Saini dazzles on County debut with a five-wicket haul

India speedster Navdeep Saini made his presence felt on his County debut for Kent with a five-wicket haul against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

On Friday (July 15), Kent confirmed Saini's signing for the remaining 2022 season which includes three County Championship (first-class) and five Royal London Cup (List A) matches over the next few months.

He is the fifth Indian to sign for an English County this season and only the second Indian player after Rahul Dravid to play for Kent.

Saini made his County Championship debut for Kent, during the ongoing Division One match against Warwickshire. He returned as the highest wicket-taker for his team in the second innings of the match with the figures of 5/72 in 18 overs. The tally included four maiden overs.

Saini shines with a maiden fifer in county cricket

His clinical bowling display with the ball helped Kent reduce Warwickshire to 225/10 in 85.1 overs in their first batting innings. Kent had scored 165 runs in their first innings, and currently find themselves at 198/4 from 63 overs, in the third innings of the match.

The right-arm hostile bowler bagged the wickets of batters Chris Benjamin, Dan Mousley, Michael Burgess, Henry Brooks, and Craig Miles. 

WATCH: Saini bamboozling Warwickshire's batters:

The most impressive part of his bowling was that he bowled in the right areas and forced the opposition batters to commit errors. All of his wickets were either caught behind or caught at slip.

A host of Indian cricketers have played and improved their skills while turning out for various County clubs in England over the years. Saini will be looking to do the same in his first spell with Kent in order to earn a national recall. 

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