ICC World Twenty20 stats: Ravichandran Ashwin produces best bowling performance by an Indian
Ravichandran Ashwin's career-best bowling performance against Australia in the ICC World Twenty20 on Sunday is best by an Indian bowler in T20Is, eclipsing Harbhajan Singh's four for 12 against England at Colombo on September 23, 2012.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: March 31, 2014 11:07 AM IST
Yuvraj Singh played a fluent knock of 60 and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned a fine haul of four for 11 as India drubbed Australia by 73 runs at the ICC World Twenty20 to finish unbeaten in Group 2. Chasing 160 for a victory, Australia failed to come to terms with the Ashwin-led spin attack and folded for 86 in what was their third consecutive defeat in the five-team league. Introduced in the fourth over, Ashwin not removed openers Aaron Finch (6) and David Warner (19) dangerous Glenn Maxwell (23) and James Muirhead (11). (Match Report | Highlights | Points Table)Ashwin, who bagged his second consecutive man-of-the-match award, said the score they were defending was little above par. "I thought 160 was just above par," Ashwin, who took four wickets and gave away just 11 runs, said. (Related: Yuvi is a bombshell in T20s, says Dhoni)
On his bowling, he said, "You have to cut the width for the right-hander, the line I'm bowling is not too wide outside off. We were stretched quite a bit while batting but we're playing well the way we are." (Match in pics)
Following are the highlights of Ashwin's bowling performance:
# Ravichandran Ashwin (4/11) has produced a career-best bowling performance in T20Is, eclipsing the 2 for 15 against Bangladesh at Dhaka on March 28, 2014. (Who says I am out of form: Yuvraj Singh)
# Ashwin's excellent bowling figures are the best by an Indian bowler in T20Is, eclipsing Harbhajan Singh's figures of four for 12 against England at Colombo (RPS) on September 23, 2012.
# Ashwin's above performance is the third best by a bowler against Australia in T20Is - the best being 6 for 16 by Ajantha Mendis for Sri Lanka at Pallekele on August 8, 2011 and 4 for 8 by Umar Gul for Pakistan at Dubai (DSC) on May 7, 2009. Jon Lewis is the only other bowler to have captured four wickets vs Australia - 4 for 24 for England at Southampton on June 13, 2005.
# Just for the record, Ashwin is the only bowler to bag four wickets in an innings against Australia at the World Twenty20.
# Ashwin has got his second MOM award in T20Is (both in succession) - one each against Bangladesh and Australia.
Stats courtesy: Rajesh Kumar