Daily Sports Catch Up: Ashwin's master-class, Kolkata into Semis, Sindhu shines

Cricket

Another home Test series win for India and the first away Test series loss for SA in 9 years. An Ashwin master-class, 12-98, helped India easily beat SA by 124 runs inside 3 days. This makes it the 5th consecutive Test in India to finish within 3 days (excluding the wash-out).

Stat of the day: Ashwin needs 31 wickets in the next 5 tests to become the fastest to 200 wickets! He has 169 wickets off 31 tests, the most by any bowler in his first 31 tests! He is also the leading wicket-taker in tests in 2015 with 55 wickets from 8 tests.

Also, India U-19s beat Afghanistan U-19s by 104 runs thanks to a brilliant century by youngster Rishabh Pant (117 of 98 balls) #MakingIndiaProud

#LetsFootball

Atletico de Kolkata became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of ISL, after an Iain Hume hat-trick helped them thump FC Pune City 4-1 and move to 23 points. Pune remain 6th with 15 points.

Badminton

Star of the day: Defending champion P.V Sindhu reached the Macau Open semis after overcoming Chen Yufei (China) in a tough 3-setter, 21-13, 18-21,21-14. The Indian Men, however, disappointed with both Prannoy and Sai Praneeth bowing out to lesser-seeded opponents.

Hockey

An intense but sloppy India lost 0-3 to Argentina in the opener of Hockey World League Finals in Raipur. Disappointing result for India in the easiest match of their pool, the other two opponents being Netherlands and Germany.

Quick-Bytes

• Nicolas Anelka doesn’t want to come back to ISL next year (Ah, Ranbir must be relieved!)
• Dravid criticizes the poor quality of Ranji pitches
• #Tennis CTL: Punjab Marshalls beat Raipur Rangers 23-15 in Chandigarh   

Key matches today!

• #Badminton Macau GPG SF – Sindhu (5th seed) vs Yamaguchi (2nd seed)
• #HeroISL – North-East United vs Delhi Dynamos FC 

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