In The final of Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy Tamil Nadu spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t have the standout batting or bowling performances in the match that Karnataka won by 1 run – on Sunday, but Ashwin’s show of his emotions was the highlight of the thrilling final.
Ravichandran Ashwin first turned the match on its head by taking back-to-back wickets of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal off consecutive deliveries in the 5th over. He reacted by doing an Imran Tahiresque celebration, running around the ground in delight. Karnataka skipper Manish Pandey calmly played the hat-trick ball for a single down the ground. All in all, Ashwin’s 5th over was exactly what the final needed – an India player showing his emotions in a domestic tournament’s final.
Karnataka scored 180/5 in their 20 overs, with spinner Ashwin having finished with figures of 2/34.
Ashwin was asked to bat with Tamil Nadu team needing 30 runs in 17 balls.
Here Ashwin Tweets about Sunday’s match:-
It’s so hard to wake up after games like what we had last night, #KarVsTN and to play a game of such intensity in the domestic circuit is a delight to say the least. Well done again to both teams. 👏👏
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) December 2, 2019
With Tamil Nadu needing 13 runs to win off the last over, Ashwin Ravichandran was on strike against Krishnappa Gowtham. Vijay Shankar was on 43 at the other end, with Ashwin having turned down his call for a double off the last ball of the 19th over.
Ashwin proceeded to score two fours off Gowtham, then punching the air as the equation was brought down to 5 runs needed off 4 balls. The celebration would turn out to be premature though – like Mushfiqur Rahim’s celebration had been in 2016 vs India.
Ashwin done a Mushfiqur today. Never celebrate before you win. Proved again today #KARvTN #SMAT #karnataka pic.twitter.com/Q5qooacpBp
— V I P E R™ (@Offl_TheViper) December 1, 2019
He had taken his helmet off for the last over, with Krishnappa Gowtham’s spin to deal with.
Without Helmet
DHONI = Ashwin
— Sujoy Barg (@SujoyBarg07) December 1, 2019
Vijay Shankar was run out off the penultimate ball.
With Tamil Nadu needing 3 runs to win off the last ball, Ashwin also took his leg guard off. With 2 runs needed to take the match to a Super Over, Ashwin wanted to be as unencumbered by equipment as possible.
Here Is The video How the last overplayed out:
Here is the drama of last over…. pic.twitter.com/JXqt19TrE9
— Aarenn (@KarnatakaCrickt) December 1, 2019
However, Tamil Nadu’s spinner Ashwin could not connect with the last ball and the two Ashwins could only scamper through for a single as Karnataka won by 1 run.
