Proving his worth with the bat, Ashwin scored 106 runs off 148 balls with the help of 14 hours and a six on a turning Chepauk wicket. Ravichandran Ashwin has credited his excellent batting show in Sydney for his record ton in the second test against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batted out 258 balls to help India walk away with the epic draw and head into the final test at the Gabba, which the touring party won by three wickets to clinch the Border-Gavaskar series 2-1.
Ashwin’s century followed a five-wicket haul in England’s first innings, making him only the second cricketer to achieve the feat of a century. Ian Botham of England had done it five times. Ashwin, the hero of India’s amazing win, was also judged Man of the Match. As much as people were predicting things from the outside,he thought that the balls that were doing much weren’t getting wickets. It was the mind of the batsmen that got them with wickets. He has been playing for years over here now and it takes patience to do it.
It is very important to put pressure on the bowlers because if you allow them to tell terms, said Ashwin. Ashwin said, ” I just wanted to take it upon myself,and after I connected the first ball, I knew I got a hang of this wicket. I am someone who tries hard,and when things don’t go my way,try harder”. That innings in Sydney really set the tone for him. The four-match series now moves to Ahmedabad where the third test a day-night test will be played from February 24 at the newly made Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera.
