2nd Test: Heroic R Ashwin puts India on cusp of massive victory over England in Chennai
Ravichandran Ashwin's 5th hundred in the longest format has pushed England out of the contention to win the 2nd Test in Chennai. Chasing a massive target of 482 runs, England ended the Day 3 on 53/3.
HIGHLIGHTS
- India posted a 482-run target for England after Ashwin hit his 5th Test hundred
- England were 53/3 at the time of stumps on Day 3 of the 2nd Test match in Chennai
- Virat Kohli oozed class and confidence in his 149-ball 62 knock
Day 3 of the 2nd Test match between India and England at Chennai has nothing in store for England again. India fumbled in the beginning but then a captain's knock from Virat Kohli and raw intent from local hero Ravichandran Ashwin pushed the match more in favour of India on Monday.
After India posted a massive 482-run target, England lost 3 wickets in the last 20 overs of the day. Axar Patel trapped Dom Sibley (3) in front of the stumps before Rory Burns, who got a lifeline from Rishabh Pant while batting at 7, was caught by Kohli on a Ashwin delivery.
Nightwatchman Jack Leach came in but was dismissed by Patel for a golden duck. Captain Joe Root was forced to walk in with only 10 minutes of play remaining. A fourth England wicket was on cards but the umpire's call saved the lucky English captain as the vistors ended the day on 53/3.
Earlier, Cheteshwar Pujara (7), Rohit Sharma(26), Rishabh Pant (8) and Ajinkya Rahane's (10) stay on the crease was short as a good fielding effort and some smart piece of bowling from spinners Jack Leach and Moeen Ali saw the Indian batting line-up crumbling in the first hour of Day 3.
Few minutes later, Moeen Ali dismissed Axar Patel (7) in the 37th over as India were reduced to 106 for 6.
But it was then that something special unfurled at Chepauk. Captain Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin joined forces to show why batting on Chennai wicket was not 'impossible'. The duo looked in complete control as they negated the England spin attack.
Kohli, who went on to score 62 runs off 149 balls after getting out on a duck in the first innings, displayed class en route to his innings which consisted of 7 exquisite boundaries. The presence of a free-flowing Virat Kohli saw Ashwin also getting in the groove from the very beginning. The lanky cricketer played counter-attacking cricket scoring boundaries on a regular interval to finish at an unbeaten 34 off 38 balls at the time of Lunch.
Both the batsmen looked set for a hundred but the plan was foiled by Moeen Ali, who hunted down Virat Kohli for his third wicket of the day. The ball missed the bat of Kohli and went on to hit his pads but the India star took a review straightaway. However, that did not change anything and Kuldeep Yadav replaced his skipper in the middle.
Ali struck again to end Yadav's 9-ball stay in the middle. Ishant Sharma hung in for 24-ball and scored 7 runs as Ashwin inched close to his 5th Test hundred.
Ashwin was batting at an individual score of 77 when Ishant departed in the 77th over. Each 'unharmful' delivery from that moment was cheered by the crowd at Chepauk. Local boy Ashwin accelerated his innings and dealt in boundaries before hitting a six to 97 runs. A double and then a mistimed shot for four saw a thrilled Ashwin jumping around the ground like a kid who has got his favourite gift, for him it was a hundred and a five-for in the same match.
Mohammed Siraj stood solid for 21-balls and scored 16 runs which included 2 sixes to give Ashwin an opportunity to score hundred for the first time after 2016. Olly Stone castled the 33-year-old to end India's 2nd innings on 286.
