in india
Ashwin basks after helping India contain S. Africa on Day 1
Centurion, Jan 14 - Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was delighted after his three wickets helped India reduce South Africa to 269/6 in their first innings on the first day of the second Test match here on Saturday.
Aiden Markram (94) and Hashim Amla (82) threatened India with signs of a prospective big total. But India's bowling unit, spearheaded by Ashwin (3/90), took four wickets in the final session to show the team's intent of making a strong comeback after the defeat in the opening Test in Cape Town.
The Tamil Nadu tweaker accounted for openers Markram and Dean Algar (31) and Quinton de Kock (0) to peg the hosts back. Hardik Pandya then effected two run-outs of Amla and Vernon Philander as India came back strongly into the game.
"I like to think I have kept us in the game. It could have so easily been a game where they could have run away with it after the second session. I like to believe I was just dogged enough," Ashwin said at the post-match press conference.
"Within my mind, this was probably one of the relaxed days of my cricket career. I wasn't really thinking too much and delivering the ball. My only intent was to try and keep it in a particular spot. Try and deliver from different positions in the crease, and I was really enjoying it," he added.
"Those wickets in the last session are valid incentive for us going into the Day 2. It was due to extraordinary work from Hardik. New ball is not doing a lot actually. If those two batsmen walked out tomorrow morning, it would have been tougher for us."
Ashwin revealed that the team was thinking of going with an all-seam attack having seen the wicket two days before the match started. But the curator reduced the greenish part of the wicket, giving Ashwin the chance to play the match.
"Two days from the game it looked like we are going to play an all-seam attack. And then when we walked into the ground yesterday, it was white in colour and the grass was coming off," Ashwin said.
"All of a sudden I really had to pull myself back and think I am in the game now. Today morning when we came to the ground, it looked like a wicket that was really flat and had to have a spinner in the game. I am happy with the wicket."
IANS
Related Cricket News on in india
-
Photo Highlights: India vs South Africa, 2nd Test, Day 1
Jan.13 (CRICKETNMORE) - South Africa were 269/6 at stumps on the opening day of the second test against India. Check highlights of the game in pictures below: Sahir ...
-
2nd Test (Day 1): South Africa stumble after good start
Centurion, Jan 13 - South Africa posted 269/6 at stumps on the opening day of the second cricket Test against India here on Saturday. Faf du Plessis (24 batting) and Keshav ...
-
Scorecard: India vs South Africa, 2nd Test (Day One)
Jan.13 (CRICKETNMORE) - South Africa finished the day one of the second test at 269/6 at Supersport Park in centurian on Saturday. Check the scorecard below: South Africa - 269/6 ...
-
South Africa opt to bat in second Test
Centurion, Jan 13 - South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bat in the second cricket Test against India here on Saturday. In the absence ...
-
South Africa opt to bat against India in 2nd test, Playing XI
Jan.13 (CRICKETNMORE) - South africa captain Faf duPlesis won the toss and opted to bat in the second test against India at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Saturday. India made three changes ...
-
PREVIEW: India vs South Africa, 2nd Test at Centurion
Centurion, Jan 13 - India will aim to bounce back after their defeat in the opening Test against South Africa when the second match of the starts at the SuperSport Park here ...
-
Must not get surprised by the bounce in South Africa, says Virat Kohli
Centurion, Jan 12 (CRICKETNMORE): Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Friday said the batsmen must not get surprised by the challenges offered by the bouncy wickets during the South African tour. ...
-
INDvsSA: Focus on Indian batsmen in 2nd Test Vs South Africa, Check Predicted XI
Centurion, Jan 12 (Cricketnmore) India will aim to bounce back after their defeat in the opening Test against South Africa when the second match of the starts at the SuperSport ...
-
Always good to face new challenges, says Jasprit Bumrah
Centurion, Jan 11 (Cricketnmore) India pacer Jasprit Bumrah who made his Test debut in the series opener against South Africa at Cape Town, on Thursday said it's good to face ...
-
India to tour Ireland for two T20Is
New Delhi, Jan 10 - The Indian cricket team will travel to Ireland for a brief two T20 Internationals series as part of their preparation for the gruelling tour of England ...
-
South Africa announce squad for 2nd test against India
Centurion, Jan 9 - South Africa have added the fast bowling duo of Duanne Olivier and uncapped 21-year-old Lungi Ngidi to their squad for the second cricket Test against India starting ...
-
I'm a very fast-bowling minded coach, says Gibson
Centurion, Jan 9 - South Africa head coach Otis Gibson has expressed his desire to stick with a four-pronged pace attack for the remaining two cricket Tests against India. After the ...
-
Scorecard: India vs South Africa First Test
Cape Town, Jan 8 - South Africa beat India by 72 runs in the opening cricket Test between India and South Africa, which ended at Newlands here on Monday. Check out ...
-
Du Plessis stresses on piling pressure on Indian team
Cape Town, Jan 8 - After handing India a 72-run defeat in the opening Test at Newlands, South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis on Monday focussed on the importance of ...
Cricket Special Today
-
- 05 Oct 2024 01:56
-
- 02 Oct 2024 09:13
-
- 13 Sep 2024 12:23
-
- 10 Sep 2024 12:01
-
- 29 Aug 2024 01:18
-
- 06 Aug 2024 11:28