Ravichandran Ashwin took a six-wicket haul in the second innings against Somerset in the four-day county fixture at the Oval on Wednesday.
Ashwin bowled 15 overs in the second innings picked 6 wickets, giving away just 27 runs. Opening the bowling with the new ball once again, Ashwin removed Steven Davies, Tom Lammonby, James Hildreth, George Bartlett, and Roelof van der Merwe and Ben Green.
As a result, Somerset bundled out for just 69 runs in 29.1 overs, in the second innings on Day 4. Ashwin also became the first spinner in 11 years to bowl the first over of the match for Surrey. The 34-year-old grabbed his 49th fifth-wicket haul in FC cricket and seventh five-for in County cricket.
In the first innings, Ashwin bowled beautifully but didn’t get the reward for his bowling. The veteran off-spinner bowled 42 overs, giving away 96 runs, and picked the wicket of Tom Lammonby. But in the second innings, it was all about showing his skill-sets. He also dismissed Roelof van der Merwe with the famous carrom ball.
The six-wicket haul would boost Ashwin’s confidence going into the five-Test series against England starting from August 4. The Indian team will play a three-day game against Select County XI from July 20-22.
“I am so privileged to be having the badge on. I have heard and wondered what the London counties are all about. Even though it’s only for a game, I am delighted to share this dressing room,” Ashwin had said in a video shared by the Surrey county team.
