South Africa spinner Sean Whitehead picks all 10 wickets in an innings of first class match

Sean Whitehead has entered record books by picking all 10 wickets in an innings for South Western Districts against Eastern Storm in the first-class game in South Africa. The slow left-arm bowler ended the innings with figures of 10 for 36 and helped his team bundle out Eastern Storm for 65.

Whitehead had a game to remember as he also scored handy 66 and 49 in two innings of the game as South Western District won the match by 120 runs. The situation would have been slightly different had Eastern Storm pressed the accelerator when they had Western Districts reeling at 5 for 3. Whitehead batted sensibly and allowed his side to set a target of 186 for the visitors to chase down.

Whitehead carried the form in the bowling and took 10 wickets in just 12.1 overs. The all-rounder came to the limelight in the 2016 edition of the U-19 World Cup. On slow and low pitches in Bangladesh, the spinner took six wickets in as many games.

Whitehead then managed to impress in first-class cricket. He has picked 39 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 25.64. He has managed to do well with the bat as well, scoring 481 runs. Whitehead’s 10-wicket haul is now the second-best in the history of South African cricket. Bert Vogler holds the record for registering 10 for 26 for Eastern Province against Griqualand West, way back in 1906, which are the best figures. In recent years, Mario Oliver took 10 for 65 for Warriors against Eagles in 2007.

Whitehead’s breathtaking performance has now catapulted him to a big league. Now expectations from him will be sky-high after his heroic performance with the ball.