worcestershire ccc 2017 overseas player ravichandran ashwin made an important contribution with the bat to help keep india in contention on day three of the second test with south africa at centurion.
ashwin had taken 4-113 from 38.5 overs in south africa’s first innings total of 335 – the second best ever figures by a spinner in the first innings of a test at centurion.
he came to the wicket with india on 209-6 – still 126 in arrears – and added a crucial 71 runs with skipper virat kohli.
ashwin, who helped worcestershire win all four county championship matches he featured in last summer, made 38 off just 54 balls with seven boundaries.
the 31-year-old was eventually seventh out at 270 when, in the first over with the second new ball, he nicked vernon philander to faf du plessis at second slip.
kohli was eventually last out for a magnificent 153 out of 307 and only opener murali vijay (40) and ashwin gave him much support.
ashwin, who picked up 20 wickets in his four games at New Road, took the new ball when the proteas batted again.
he bowled 12 overs for 33 overs before rain and then bad light intervened with south africa on 90-2 – a lead of 118.
*former worcestershire overseas player, shakib al hasan, was voted man of the match as bangladesh defeated zimbabwe by eight wickets in a tri-nations encounter in dhaka.
shakib, who had two spells at new road, took 3-43 and scored 37 as his side chased down a 171 target.
