India’s Ravichandran Ashwin did something that is not only beyond extraordinary but also is one of the biggest achievements made by an Indian cricketer till now. Batting in a test match and scoring a century is not that rare but nailing five wickets in the same test match, twice makes it an exceptional feat and Ashwin did it like it was just another everyday task for him.
On Saturday, Ashwin carved his name into the history books as he became the first Indian to score a century and take a five-for in the same test match. He smashed a splendid 113 runs in the first innings and took seven wickets later in the second innings of the Antigua Test match against the West Indies to put India in a winning position.
Ashwin broke a steady stand between Marlon Samuels and Rajendra Chandrika, when he dismissed Chandrika on the penultimate day of the Test.
After that, there was no stopping for Ashwin as he snapped Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase and the West Indies skipper Jason Holder. It was his first five-wicket haul outside the subcontinent.
Ashwin is the No.1-ranked all-rounder in the longest format of the game and he smashed the third century of his test career, all 3 of them have come against the West Indies.
Ashwin is the third Indian to achieve an exceptional feat like this, earlier Vinoo Mankad in 1952, scored an 184 and took 5/196 against England in Lord’s and Polly Umrigar smashed an unbeaten 172* and grabbed 5/107 against the West Indies in Spain.
Although, Ian Botham of England, who is also known as one of the finest all-rounders of all time ahs done it five times during his test career.
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25 July, 2016
Avni S. Singh