There is currently no stopping Ravichandran Aswhin from achieving multiple records. The 35-year-old recently overcame Harbhajan Singh to become India’s third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. And now the off-spinner has achieved some more records in the ongoing second Test match against South Africa, being played at Wanderers, in Johannesburg.
On Wednesday (January 5), Ashwin had sent back South Africa batsman Keegan Petersen after the batter scored 28
off 44 deliveries and with this wicket Ashwin became just the second spinner after former India spinner Anil Kumble to claim a Test wicket in Johannesburg.
A length ball, bowled by Ashwin spun a lot. Petersen wanted to play it but could not read the turn of the ball properly and ended up just missing the ball as it went on to hit the pads. Umpire raised his finger after a pondering a little. The Proteas could have asked for a review but refrained from using it.
South Africa in danger
Ashwin’s wicket saw South Africa stumbling at 93 after losing two wickets. Previously opener Aiden Markram was dismissed by India’s new hero and all-rounder Shardul Thakur. Markram scored 31 off 38 deliveries but failed to carry on after Thakur’s delivery kept a little low and could not manage to strike the ball. It hit his pads and the opening was give out.
South Africa ended the day’s play with 118 runs on the board after losing two wickets. Southth Africa skipper Dean Elger is batting at 46 with Rassie van der Dussen on the ether end, at 11.
Though, Aswhin’s record-breaking spree did not end there. The Indian off spinner became the first spinner to claim a wicket in Johannesburg after Pakistan spinner Shadab Khan took the last wicket at the same venue back in January, 2019.
Earlier, in the first innings, against South Africa, all-rounder Thakur produced a simply magical spell to claim an amazing figure of 7/61. The 30-year-old’s bowling figure became the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler against South Africa in Test cricket. Maharashtra-born Thakur, overcame his teammate Ashwin’s previous record of 7/66 which he created in Nagpur, back in 2015.
