In a pivotal moment on the third day of the ongoing fifth Test match, Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin showcased his bowling prowess by dismissing England skipper Ben Stokes with a masterful delivery. Playing his 100th match, Ashwin displayed exceptional skills at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, claiming four crucial wickets in England’s second innings during the morning session.
The day began with Ashwin quickly asserting his dominance, dismissing England opener Duckett with his crafty bowling. Soon after, Zak Crawley returned to the pavilion after scoring just one run, falling victim to Ashwin’s guile. The off-spinner continued his remarkable spell by trapping England vice-captain Ollie Pope, caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Middle-order batsman Jonny Bairstow then took on Ashwin aggressively, launching several powerful sixes. However, his attacking approach was short-lived as he fell to Kuldeep Yadav’s delivery, departing after a brisk 39-run cameo.
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In a significant breakthrough just before lunch, Ravichandran Ashwin outsmarted Ben Stokes with a deceptive delivery, shattering the England skipper’s stumps. Stokes, who had struggled throughout the series, managed only 2 runs off 10 balls before departing. With half of their side back in the pavilion, England found themselves in a precarious position, trailing the Rohit Sharma-led side by 156 runs.
First ball magic knocks Stokes over AGAIN! 🤯 13th time lucky for Ashwin 😎#IDFCFirstBankTestSeries #BazBowled #INDvENG #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/CIqMXIbI7h
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) March 9, 2024
Dinesh Karthik likened Ashwin’s bowling style to the complexity of Christopher Nolan’s movies, emphasizing the off-spinner’s mastery and use of physics to enhance his techniques. Karthik highlighted Ashwin’s meticulous attention to detail, including adjustments to his delivery stride and hip movement, which contribute to his effectiveness on the field.
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Ashwin’s milestone match marked him as the 14th Indian cricketer to reach the milestone of 100 Tests. Having already showcased his talent with four wickets in the first innings, Ashwin now eyes the coveted achievement of securing a five-wicket haul in his 100th Test, a feat achieved only by legends such as Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Anil Kumble.
With victory already secured in the series, the Indian team aims to conclude the match on a high note, boosting their position in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 table.
