India vs England 2021: Twitter Reacts As A Brilliant Hundred By Ravichandran Ashwin Underlines Another Day Of Domination By Team India

By Yash Mittal

Updated - 15 Feb 2021, 06:09 PM

India, England, Mohammed Siraj, Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin [Image Credit: Ttwitter]

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A masterclass in how to play spin on a raging turner by Virat Kohli [62] and Ravichandran Ashwin [106] followed by three second-innings wickets of England has put India on the cusp of victory in the second Test at Chepauk.

As has been the case throughout this Test match, the game moved along at a rate of knots in the morning session on the third day as Team India lost wickets in a flurry.

England claimed both overnight batsmen in Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma within the first 15 minutes. Pujara was run-out following an unfortunate turn of events that saw the Indian No.3’s bat get stuck in the pitch after he played it to short-leg.

Ben Foakes then proceeded to affect two brilliant stumpings to once again display just why he is an artist behind the stumps. The first of his two victims was Rohit Sharma, who was beaten on the outside edge by the sharp dip and turn by Jack Leach. Ben Foakes collected the ball cleanly and broke the stumps before Rohit could move his foot back in the crease.

India, England, Ben Foakes
Ben Foakes [Image Credit: BCCI]
And, then it was the turn of Rishabh Pant. Pant, who was promoted ahead of Ajinkya Rahane, once again decided to take on Jack Leach by dancing down the track but this time he was beaten by the turn and Ben Foakes did the rest as he collected the ball and dislodged the bails at the speed of Chennai’s adopted son MS Dhoni.

Ajinkya Rahane decided to take on the spinners but he could not continue for long as he gave an easy bat and pad catch to short-leg off Moeen Ali. But even as the wickets continued to fell, skipper Virat Kohli continued to hold the fort from the other end as he mixed caution with aggression to great effect to take India’s lead past the 300 mark.

Axar Patel hung around for a while but he was eventually dismissed LBW by Moeen Ali for an 18-ball 7. However, Ravichandran Ashwin came out all guns blazing as he launched a brilliant counterattack on the English bowling-unit by stroking as many as five boundaries in the first 32 deliveries that he faced. Ashwin’s sweeping masterclass against England’s spinners was a sight to behold.

India, England
Virat Kohli [Iimage Credit: BCCI]
The duo carried on in their merry way after the Lunch break as they completed their respective half-centuries to pile further misery of England. While Virat notched up his 2nd fifty of the series, Ashwin brought up his first 50 in Test cricket since 2017. It is also the 6th time that Ashwin has taken a five-wicket haul and scored a fifty in the same Test match.

The partnership soon crossed the 100-run mark but just as it looked like the King was on course for his first hundred since November 2019, Moeen Ali once again got his man after the Indian skipper got trapped LBW while playing on the backfoot on a length delivery.

Ashwin got another reprieve when Ben Foakes dropped a rather tough opportunity off Stuart Broad but Moeen Ali continued to chip away as he pinned Kuldeep Yadav plumb in front of the wicket.

Ravichandran Ashwin, R Ashwin, Ravi Ashwin, Ashwin Century
Ravichandran Ashwin [Image Credit: Ttwitter]
But Ashwin held the fort and batted along with the tail to ensure that he brought up his 5th Test ton. This is the 3rd instance where Ashwin has scored a hundred and has taken a five-wicket haul in the same Test and it’s only Ian Botham (5) who has done it more than him. Mohammed Siraj flexed his muscles with two sixes against Jack Leach before the inning finally came to an end after Ashwin dragged one onto his stumps.

England would have hoped to get past the remaining overs but that did not turn out to be the case as Axar Patel knocked over Dom Sibley and nightwatchman Jack Leach while Ashwin dismissed Rory Burns to leave the visitors in tatters at 3/53.

Also Read: India vs England 2021: Twitter Hails Ravichandran Ashwin After The Champion Cricketer Smashes His 5th Test Tonglabnd

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

https://twitter.com/im_yash2307/status/1361263346008293377?s=19

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1361217346082373633?s=19

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