2019 County Championship | Ravichandran Ashwin shines with an eight-wicket haul, but Ajinkya Rahane fails

Although, he couldn’t prevent an eventual 132-run defeat against Somerset, Ashwin turned up trumps with the ball for his side with 3/93 and 5/59 in the first and second innings respectively. Needing 255 to win in the fourth innings, Nottinghamshire were bundled out for a paltry 122. Ashwin, batting at no.4, top scored with 41. 

Earlier, in his debut for Nottinghamshire, Ashwin had picked up 3/162 against defending champions, Essex. However, his team had succumbed to an innings defeat on that occasion. Although things have looked gloomy for the Indian spinner from a team's perspective, Ashwin will take heart from his improving performances on English soil, as he looks to fight his way back into the Indian side. 

The same, however, cannot be said of his compatriot at Hampshire, Ajinkya Rahane. Hampshire’s overseas player Rahane failed against Warwickshire at Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. Batting at No 3, Rahane made just four in the first innings before being caught off the bowling of seamer Olly Stone. In Hampshire’s second innings, Rahane was trapped in front of the wicket for three by Oliver Hannon-Dalby.