Ravichandran Ashwin produced an all-round effort for his team in the final of the Tamil Nadu T20 cricket tournament to help his side win its maiden title in Chennai on Sunday.
While Ashwin went wicketless through the match, he bowled a miserly spell of 0/13 in his four overs.
In the chase, his team stumbled early on losing two quick wickets but Ashwin, who came out to bat at No. 3, kept his end steady. He scored 52 runs in 46 balls, his third-straight fifty in the tournament, before getting dismissed at the start of the 18th over.
Ashwin's team chased the total with 10 balls and six wickets to spare. Ashwin was named Player of the Match.
Ravichandran Ashwin – who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League – has had a stellar tournament. Besides leading his team to the title, the 37-year-old starred not only with the ball but also with the bat.
In the 10 matches, Ravichandran Ashwin has scored 252 runs at a healthy average of 36.00 and an effective strike rate of 151.80. His run includes three fifties, including successive ones in key three matches of the playoffs.
In the first playoff in Chennai, R Ashwin scored 69 not out in just 30 balls – with 11 fours and three sixes – to take his team over the line within 11 overs.
In the next playoff match at Dindigul, Ashwin forged a 114-run partnership in 72 balls with Shivam Singh to lay the foundation for the last-over victory. His 57 runs came in 35 balls and included four fours and sixes. Ashwin was named Player of the Match.
Ashwin also picked up nine wickets in the tournament at 27.55 apiece at a strike rate of 23.88 and an economy rate of 6.92.
His best bowling figures in the season came in the opening match in Salem, where he picked up 3/18.
