Ashwin beats Dennis Lillee to become the quickest to take 300 Test wickets
- IndiaGlitz, [Tuesday,November 28 2017]
India’s spin sensation R. Ashwin re-wrote record books yesterday when he became the quickest bowler in Test history to take 300 wickets in record number of Test mataches. Aswhin achieved the 300 wicket haul in only his 54th Test, thus easily surpassing Australia’s pace legend Dennis Lillee’s record by two Tests.
India humbled the visiting Lankans by an innings and 239 runs to record their joint highest victory over a visiting side. Ashwin bagged eight wickets in the match (four apiece in each innings) while pacr Ishant Sharma bagged six wickets. India had many batting stars for the match with centuries from Chhateshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma and a record-breaking fifth double ton from skipper Virat Kohli.
Lankan innings lasted not more than an hour after lunch as they were bundled out for a paltry 166, thus falling 239 short to make India bat again. The match effectively ended in three-and-a-half days, giving the rampaging Indians an unexpected additional break for one-and-a-half days. Kohli became the Indian captain with more double tons/tons and also equaled Brian Lara’s record of 5 double tons as captain.
It was the 31-year old Ashwin, often compared to spinning legend Anil Kumble for not ‘straining’ much for his wickets, who stole the limelight yesterday when he snapped Lankan pacer Lahiru Gamage to take his 300th wicket in only his 54th match. Aussie pacer Lillee had achieved the feat 27 years back on the same day in his 56th Test.