India leg-spinner Rahul Chahar completed his first ten-wicket haul in professional cricket in the County Championship on Saturday (September 27).
Rahul Chahar takes first career ten-wicket haul on Championship debut
In the final round of the 2025 County Championship season, Surrey travelled to Southampton to take on Hampshire, with both sides harbouring different aspirations. The defending champions still had hope of another title, while their hosts were desperate to avoid relegation. Surrey signed India leg-spinner Rahul Chahar just for this game, putting him up against compatriot Washington Sundar.
Match 119, Hampshire vs Surrey
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Surrey were skittled for 147 in the first innings, as Sundar was one of three bowlers to take three wickets. Hampshire responded with 268, Sundar making 56. It was confirmed on day two that Surrey could no longer win the title, after Nottinghamshire made 300 in their first innings against Warwickshire, securing them the required bonus points to put them out of reach. Hampshire were still in this game though, and had to chase 181 after Surrey managed 281 in their second dig.
Ali Orr and Fletcha Middleton put on 61 for the first wicket, before the latter fell to Chahar for 18. That triggered a slide to 94-4, with two apiece for Chahar and Dan Lawrence. But thereafter, the leggie took over.
He bowled Orr for 48, before removing Liam Dawson and Sundar (for the second time in the game) in the space of four overs to complete a five-for. Chahar then trapped Scott Currie in front, and had Kyle Abbott caught behind to leave Hampshire 141-9. James Fuller and Brad Wheal hung on till stumps on day three, but Chahar returned on the fourth morning to remove Fuller, ending a tense 19-run stand and securing victory by 20 runs.
He finished with 8-51 in the second innings, the third-best figures for Surrey this century behind Martin Bicknell's 9-47 and Kemar Roach's 8-40. It was also the first ten-wicket haul of his first-class career.
Hampshire sweat over relegation fate
The 20-run loss means Hampshire's fate is no longer in their hands. They now depend on Yorkshire beating Durham at Headingley in order to stay in Division One. At lunch on day four, Durham were 27-1 in 23 overs, trailing by 102 runs and knowing full well that a draw would be enough for them to keep their spot in Division One.
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