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R Ashwin played a major part on Day 2 of the third Test between India and New Zealand, helping his side remove Daryl Mitchell and take crucial wickets to let India gain the upper hand.
R Ashwin celebrates after taking the catch of Daryl Mitchell on Day 2 of the third Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai. (Photo – PTI)
New Delhi: Ravichandran Ashwin claimed the spotlight at the end of the second day’s play in the third Test between India and New Zealand, being played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. On Saturday, he pulled off a spectacular catch to dismiss Daryl Mitchell and broke a building partnership that could have proven to be dangerous for the hosts. Ashwin’s catch was a turning point of the day as Mitchell looked to have gone pretty well before Ravindra Jadeja bagged his first scalp of the second Kiwi innings.
The incident took place in the 28th over as Mitchell came down the track to loft but didn’t match the pitch of the ball and the shot came off the bottom part of the bat. Ashwin ran back from mid-on, outstretched his hands, and completed a superb catch. He ensured that the ball remained in his hands even when he tumbled. It was Jadeja’s first strike of the innings as he broke the 50-run stand between Mitchell 21(44) and Will Young.
After stumps were called, Ashwin spoke to the broadcasters and said that he was telling himself that the ball he wouldn’t be able to make it but wanted to get as close to it as possible. “I was just telling myself that it’s going to anyway leave me, I wanted to get as close to the ball as possible and I’ve got great hands, so I trusted my hands to go through with it,” Ashwin said.
Watch the video here –
Runs backwards
Keeps his eyes 👀 on the ball
Completes an outstanding catch 👍Sensational stuff from R Ashwin! 👏 👏
Live ▶️ https://t.co/KNIvTEy04z#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @ashwinravi99 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ONmRJWPk8t
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 2, 2024
Ashwin on India’s run-chase
New Zealand were 171/9 at the end of Day 2, managing a lead of 143 runs and Ashwin is hopeful of India wrapping up things quickly early morning on Day 3. The off-spinner also asserted that the chase isn’t going to be easy for the Indian batters due to the rank-turning pitch conditions.
“Hopefully not many, we should wrap it up with one or two runs here and there. Any runs saved in this innings is going to be much more critical for us when we chase it down. It’s not going to be easy, we’ll have to bat really well,” Ashwin, who scalped three wickets, said on Day 3 prospects.
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