Northampton: Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal produced a stunning moment in the County Championship as his sharply turning delivery clean bowled former England captain Ben Stokes during Northamptonshire’s clash against Durham.
Chahal’s remarkable spell became one of the biggest talking points of the match after he finished with figures of 4/36 from 15.2 overs. His dismissal of Stokes was particularly impressive, with the ball pitching outside off stump before turning sharply through the batter’s defence and crashing into the top of off stump. The County Championship’s official social media account described the delivery as “sensational”, and the video quickly attracted widespread attention.
Chahal produces a stunning delivery
The dismissal came during Durham’s first innings at the County Ground in Northampton. Stokes, batting at No. 6, had made 14 runs from 22 deliveries when Chahal delivered the ball that left the England all-rounder with little chance of recovery.
Coming around the wicket, Chahal bowled outside the off stump and invited Stokes to defend. The ball landed away from the batter and then turned sharply back into him. Stokes’ bat and pad left enough of a gap for the delivery to sneak through and hit the top of the off stump.
The dismissal took place when Durham were 187/6. Stokes’ wicket triggered further movement in the innings, with Durham eventually bowled out for 205 in 56.2 overs.
The moment was particularly striking because Stokes is an experienced international batter who has faced some of the world’s leading spinners. Chahal’s ability to flight the ball, change his pace and extract significant turn made the delivery difficult to read.
Four-wicket haul gives Northamptonshire the advantage
Chahal’s contribution went well beyond the dismissal of Stokes. The Indian spinner claimed four wickets during Durham’s innings, accounting for Alex Lees, Ben Stokes, Kasey Aldridge and Matthew Potts.
Lees was dismissed for 24, while Aldridge made 5. Potts was Chahal’s fourth victim, bowled for a duck. The spell helped Northamptonshire bring Durham’s first innings to an end at 205.
David Bedingham was Durham’s leading run-scorer, making 81 from 91 balls. Indian batter Mayank Agarwal also featured for Durham and contributed 36 runs from 57 deliveries before being dismissed by Ben Sanderson.
Northamptonshire responded strongly enough to finish the second day on 225/7, giving them a 20-run lead over Durham. James Sales top-scored with 69, while Saif Zaib added 52. The advantage gave Northamptonshire an important position in a Division Two contest involving teams competing for promotion.
Stokes struggles against Indian spin
The Chahal dismissal also continued an interesting pattern for Stokes in this season’s County Championship. The former England Test captain had previously been dismissed by Indian left-arm spinner Sai Kishore.
In an earlier County Championship match involving Durham, Stokes was dismissed by Sai Kishore after scoring 45 from 43 balls. The dismissal was another example of an Indian spinner finding a way through Stokes’ defences.
The latest dismissal against Chahal was different in style but similar in outcome. Instead of forcing an attacking shot, Stokes opted to defend, only for the ball to turn considerably more than he appeared to anticipate.
For Chahal, the performance is another reminder of his effectiveness in first-class cricket. County cricket offers bowlers extended spells and an opportunity to work on variations, flight and control, while the English conditions provide a different challenge from limited-overs cricket in India.
Chahal making an impact in English county cricket
Chahal is among several Indian cricketers featuring in the English County Championship this season. Kuldeep Yadav, Rahul Chahar and Auqib Nabi are also involved in county cricket, giving Indian players valuable experience in English domestic conditions.
The County Championship has traditionally provided overseas players with an opportunity to experience long-form cricket in conditions that can test technique and patience. For spinners, sustained spells can be particularly useful because they allow them to build pressure over several overs rather than relying solely on short spells.
Chahal’s four-wicket haul against Durham therefore carries significance beyond the viral nature of his Stokes dismissal. His ability to take wickets consistently while maintaining control helped Northamptonshire restrict a strong Durham batting line-up to 205.
The match also featured another notable Indian connection. Auqib Nabi, playing for Surrey, claimed his first County Championship wicket by dismissing Kuldeep Yadav during Surrey’s match against Yorkshire. Nabi bowled 15 overs and conceded 33 runs in the innings.
Chahal’s skill once again grabs attention
The video of Chahal dismissing Stokes quickly spread across social media after the official Rothesay County Championship account posted the clip. The description of the delivery as “sensational” reflected just how sharply the ball turned after pitching outside off stump.
For cricket followers, the dismissal was a classic example of the craft associated with quality leg-spin bowling. The delivery was not simply about turn; its effectiveness came from the combination of flight, line, length and the uncertainty created for the batter.
Stokes appeared to have enough time to play a defensive shot, but the sharp movement meant his defence was breached. The ball travelled through the gap and struck the top of the off stump, leaving the batter unable to do much more than watch the stumps being disturbed.
Northamptonshire take a 20-run lead
At the end of the second day, Northamptonshire had reached 225/7 after 76 overs, leading Durham by 20 runs. James Sales’ 69 and Saif Zaib’s 52 helped Northamptonshire move ahead after Chahal and the rest of the bowling attack had restricted Durham to 205.
With the match still developing, Chahal’s spell has already provided one of its defining moments. His 4/36 not only helped Northamptonshire gain an advantage but also produced a memorable dismissal of one of England’s most experienced cricketers.
The viral delivery against Stokes is another example of why leg-spin remains one of cricket’s most unpredictable weapons. For Chahal, it was a performance that combined wicket-taking impact with the kind of spectacular ball that continues to attract attention long after the moment has passed.