Ashwin hits century as India set England 482-run target to win second Test

E-Paper | April 24, 2026

Ashwin hits century as India set England 482-run target to win second Test

AFP Published February 15, 2021

Indian Captain Virat Kohli scores a half century on day three of the second Test of India against England at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. India, February 15. — Photo courtesy BCCI Twitter

Spinners Jack Leach and Moeen Ali dismissed Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane on day three of the second Test of India against England at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. India, February 15. — Photo courtesy ICC Twitter

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Ravichandran Ashwin hit 106 as India set England a daunting target of 482 after being bowled out for 286 on day three of the second Test on Monday.

Ashwin, who survived reprieves on 28, 56 and 70 runs, scored his fifth Test century and first against England with an edge to the third-man boundary in his hometown of Chennai.

Spinners Moeen Ali and Jack Leach claimed four wickets each.

Earlier, Ashwin took five wickets to help bowl out England for 134 in response to India's first innings 329.

The tourists, who lead the series 1-0, have since battled to avoid defeat and will have to mount a record run chase if they are to secure victory.

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Rock Solid

Feb 15, 2021 01:12pm

Lead of 400 almost, England set to lose badly

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bluetooth

Feb 15, 2021 01:26pm

Hope PCB learns something from this.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Feb 15, 2021 01:51pm

Well played Moeen Ali. Keep it up and hang on tough.

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riz1

Feb 15, 2021 01:55pm

@Rock Solid, "Lead of 400 almost, England set to lose badly" India are obviously lions in their own backyard, not to mention the repeated overseas series victories in Australia. They are 416 lead right now, it would be poetic off they keep 420 for England to win, just like England did against India in the first test.

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Blenders Pride

Feb 15, 2021 01:55pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, It's entire England team, but not just Ali means England team.

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Vaibhav

Feb 15, 2021 02:07pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Amazing mentality! Shows why Pak is where it is today!

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Umesh

Feb 15, 2021 02:17pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, If India were a media hyped team then the moeen ali s performance is worth less.

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Viks

Feb 15, 2021 02:18pm

What is the point of having Test cricket like this when the result is effectively decided at the toss? Farce.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Feb 15, 2021 04:26pm

@Vaibhav, We are like that for decades..will not change.

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Feb 15, 2021 04:44pm

@Viks, the third innings score of 286 vs 134 of second innings effectively counters your argument.

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Manish

Feb 15, 2021 04:47pm

whoever wins toss wins match..................... this needs to change, happens to offen

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Rashid

Feb 15, 2021 05:03pm

Doctored wicket.

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Feb 15, 2021 05:05pm

Ashwin is an underrated great, and a gem for the Indian team.

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Babu

Feb 15, 2021 05:29pm

Best chance for India to square off the series. India only 7 wickets away.

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Vivek

Feb 15, 2021 05:33pm

England 53 for 3 at close of Third day. India heading for win for sure.

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Markhor

Feb 15, 2021 05:44pm

Ashwin has the guts to bat and run more. Keep it up

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jdd

Feb 15, 2021 05:49pm

@Vaibhav, absulotely right

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Vijay B.

Feb 15, 2021 05:52pm

At the end of the day, anything can happen in the game of cricket. England could still win it has 2 whole days to meet the required total of 482 runs. but since it is already 56 for 3, we'll just have to wait and see how the cookie crumbles. just look at the total England scored in the first innings of the first test match. don't get me wrong, being an Indian of course i want India to win and even the series score to 1 : 1.

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Sher

Feb 15, 2021 05:54pm

@Blenders Pride, the problem is not with him, it's with his education.

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MJS

Feb 15, 2021 06:50pm

Toss is not an excuse. Australia lost 4-0 in India after winning toss in all 4 tests.

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Nikus

Feb 15, 2021 06:51pm

@Viks, yes. And field Ashwin, Kuldeep, Axar together

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Tough-guy

Feb 15, 2021 06:53pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, very funny statement from you

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Khurram

Feb 15, 2021 06:57pm

Match is not over yet. England may surprise the overconfident team.

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Bipul

Feb 15, 2021 06:58pm

@Viks, Ashwin scored century in second innings. Any comments?

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Dr Dummy

Feb 15, 2021 07:19pm

@riz1, Perhaps you were quarantined and without power supply during India's recent tour of Australia,

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Kashif

Feb 15, 2021 07:22pm

pathetic wickets, not sporty enough to have a balanced contest, what a shame.

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Dr Dummy

Feb 15, 2021 07:23pm

@Viks, Where have you been playing your cricket matches? If England does not know how to play on such tracks, then it is no different when you tour those countries, and when the aim is to hit your body rather than the wicket.

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atif

Feb 15, 2021 07:33pm

@Dr Dummy, Well, u may be right but 36 all out happened too

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Khan

Feb 15, 2021 07:35pm

Well played team england

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HumIndian

Feb 15, 2021 07:37pm

India will win

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Geetanjali Mishra

Feb 15, 2021 07:38pm

@Kashif, that applies to both the team.what a shame

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Zak

Feb 15, 2021 07:38pm

Good luck England, we are with you.

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FASTag

Feb 15, 2021 07:57pm

@Zak, Sadly, England don't want to be with you.

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Remember71

Feb 15, 2021 08:09pm

@Zak, Even England team is not very hopeful as they are not playing against Pakistan.

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Spitfire

Feb 15, 2021 08:16pm

Ashwin scores a century on a dodgy pitch. Something fishy going on.

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Sri

Feb 15, 2021 08:30pm

@atif, yes, so what's your point?

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Vaibhav

Feb 15, 2021 08:33pm

@Kashif, still a better excuse than loosing bcoz of Covid! PCB must learn from England!

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Vaibhav

Feb 15, 2021 08:34pm

@Kashif, when Asian teams go to England, don't they get green carpets?

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Joe

Feb 15, 2021 08:36pm

@Kashif, pathetic wickets, not sporty enough to have a balanced contest, what a shame." A bowler coming at number eight in batting order score a century.What is di pathetic about wicket ? Application brother , word is application .Last pair added 50 runs to the total.

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Titan

Feb 15, 2021 08:38pm

Dr Salaria, others in England team are humans too

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Pops

Feb 15, 2021 08:39pm

Ash in made nearly as many runs as the whole of England team on his own. I was a pleasure to see him bat. And Mo Siraj made more runs than some batsmen, including a huge six, not out.

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N_Saq

Feb 15, 2021 08:46pm

It is not over until it is over. However, England win the first test...just saying.

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misbah

Feb 15, 2021 08:59pm

@atif, turning a series win from 36 happened too.

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Npjk

Feb 15, 2021 09:03pm

@Zak, we can beat both combined.

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atif

Feb 15, 2021 09:42pm

@misbah, did it wipe out 36?

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Titan

Feb 15, 2021 09:46pm

Riz1, Pak won against SA in their own backyard too, lost to New Zealand badly overseas when India was winning against Australia in Australia.

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MJS

Feb 15, 2021 09:54pm

2 best cricket teams. India and Australia. Coincidentally both have lowest total 36 and 2nd lowest 42.

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Abdul Sindhi

Feb 15, 2021 09:58pm

@Kashif, that is exactly how Pakistan won.

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JND

Feb 15, 2021 10:18pm

@MJS, For your kind information India was not all out but 36/9.

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Vijay B.

Feb 15, 2021 10:24pm

@Npjk, "@Zak, we can beat both combined." Who is "WE' and who is "Both combined"? Wish you had been a bit more specific. If Pakistan is "WE' of course, verily, verily so. Pakistan is the greatest in any and every field, be it a war or cricket. It is a known fact that Pakistan has no match the world over. in any field.

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Nikus

Feb 15, 2021 10:48pm

@N_Saq, either you are ignorant of cricket or ...l. Ashwin will finish this english batting within evening. point is indian batting is scared of Anderson and Indian bowling is scared of williamson. So called mighty India focused on Australia but getting scared of England and New Zealand.

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jeff

Feb 15, 2021 10:50pm

Go Ashwin go

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riz1

Feb 15, 2021 10:57pm

@Titan, "Pak won against SA in their own backyard too, lost to New Zealand badly overseas when India was winning against Australia in Australia.' Of course, both Pakistan and India need to win series against RSA within RSA, not just individual games.

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riz1

Feb 15, 2021 10:58pm

@FASTag, "Sadly, England don't want to be with you." Well, they have Mirpuri Moeen Ali in their team!

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ecarus

Feb 15, 2021 11:24pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, well played Siraj! Keep it up and hang on tough!

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Dr Dummy

Feb 16, 2021 01:10am

@Viks, Incompetence and lack of knowledge know no bounds!

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Alla Bux

Feb 16, 2021 05:01am

@Vaibhav, Not anymore as the pace batteries of S Asian teams are as good as any.

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LOUDSPEAKER

Feb 16, 2021 06:33am

@CF, he’s not an underrated cricketer, every cricket loving fan recognize him as a wonderfull right arm off spin bowler whose specialty is the carrom ball.

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LOUDSPEAKER

Feb 16, 2021 08:54am

Chidambaram Stadium wicket Designed by expert Geotechnical Engineers. Rest is easy to understand.

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Yash Kohli

Feb 16, 2021 10:43am

@Khurram , A wishful thought.

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Yash Kohli

Feb 16, 2021 10:45am

@Kashif, Same pitch for both sides. The difference is in bowling and batting.

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Shivaprakash

Feb 16, 2021 12:28pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Dont change.b there Dont come out lest bad smelling egg can spoil rest

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