Record-breaking Ashwin helps India gain lead of 142
The off-spinner's 13th five-wicket haul overshadowed a gritty half-century from AB de Villiers as the South African batsmen struggled to deal with the spin.
Ravichandran Ashwin became the fastest Indian to take 150 wickets as his 5-51 helped India bowl South Africa out for 184 on day two of the first Test at Mohali on Friday. The off-spinner reached the landmark in his 29th Test match. The hosts then converted their slender 17-run lead to a significant 142 runs by the end of the day, with their second-innings score at 125-2 at stumps. Cheteshwar Pujara (63 not out) and captain Virat Kohli (11 not out) are at the crease.
After losing opener Shikhar Dhawan for a consecutive duck, India’s second-wicket pair of Murali Vijay (47) and Pujara played sensible cricket on a turning surface and put on 86 runs. The hosts benefitted by the absence of South African pace bowler Dale Steyn, who was rested as a precautionary measure after a groin strain.
Earlier, Ashwin's 13th five-wicket haul overshadowed a gritty half-century from AB de Villiers as the South African batsmen struggled to deal with the spin.
