Ravichandran Ashwin produced another disciplined spell for the Dublin Guardians in the European T20 Premier League, underlining his value as the experienced captain and lead spinner against Edinburgh Castle Rockers. The veteran off-spinner produced figures of 4-0-18-0, keeping the scoring under control with a miserly economy rate of 4.50. The performance came as the Dublin-based franchise continued its inaugural ETPL campaign under his leadership. The side, co-owned by former India captain Rahul Dravid and coached by Vikram Rathour, entered the latest phase of the competition after finally securing its first victory of the season against Belfast Wolves.
The 39-year-old has been brought into the competition not only for his bowling but also for his tactical understanding and leadership experience. The official ETPL profile describes him as an innovative off-spinner with strong game awareness, while his role with the Guardians extends to captaincy and mentorship. His latest economical outing adds to a campaign in which he has continued to provide control in the middle overs. After six matches, the veteran has picked up four wickets at an economy rate of around 6.46.
The Guardians are competing in the inaugural six-team tournament, which features 32 league matches and brings together several prominent international names. With the competition now being played at Malahide in Ireland, the seasoned campaigner will be expected to continue guiding his young side through the crucial closing stages.
Edinburgh Castle Rockers hold their nerve to edge Dublin Guardians by 12 runs
Edinburgh Castle Rockers secured a crucial 12-run victory over Dublin Guardians in Match 21 of the European T20 Premier League at Malahide, strengthening their position at the top end of the competition. The Rockers posted 174/4 in 20 overs, setting Dublin a demanding target of 175. The Guardians, who had entered the contest on the back of an encouraging eight-wicket win over Belfast Wolves, could manage 162/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The result continued Edinburgh’s impressive campaign and handed Dublin another setback.
The Guardians’ chase showed plenty of resistance but never quite produced the sustained acceleration needed to overhaul the target. Their innings ended at 162/8, leaving them 13 runs short of victory. Jack Jarvis was the standout bowler, returning excellent figures of 4-0-34-4, while Tom Curran also played an important role with 2/32 from four overs. For the visitors, the victory further underlined their consistency in the tournament, having already beaten Dublin earlier in the competition. That previous encounter saw them win by four wickets after restricting the Guardians to 109, while their latest success was considerably more competitive.
