India Champions were given a reality check by Pakistan Champions who beat the arch-rivals by 68 runs in the much-anticipated battle of the legends at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham on Saturday.
New Delhi: Pakistan Champions thrashed India Champions by 68 runs to register their third win on the trot at the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham on Saturday. The match saw vintage cricketers from the arch-rival nations taking on each other at the Edgbaston Stadium which was decently packed with the supporters of either side. India, who were eyeing a third successive win, had to suffer their first defeat of the tournament.
Opting to field first, India-C bowlers leaked 243 runs in 20 overs as Pakistan-C openers Kamran Akmal and Sharjeel Khan rewound the clock smashing 40-ball 77 and 30-ball 72 respectively. Akmal hit nine fours and four sixes while Sharjeel smacked seven fours and five sixes to give a fabulous start to their side. Both partnered for 145 runs for the opening wicket and after their departure, Sohaib Maqsood helmed the innings.
Maqsood hit two fours and five sixes to score 51 off 26 deliveries and Shoaib Malik too chipped in with an unbeaten 25-run knock, hitting two fours. Pakistan stalwart Shahid Afridi endured a golden duck while Aamer Yamin remained unbeaten with Malik on 5. The PAK-C scoreboard was at a mammoth 243/4 in 20 overs as RP Singh, Anureet Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni, and Pawan Negi picked a wicket apiece.
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India-C middle-order fails
Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu walked out to bat, opening the innings for India, and scored a 12-ball 22 and 23-ball 39 respectively before their departure. India were four down under 10 overs as Yusuf Pathan (run-out on 0) and Gurkeerat Singh Mann (1 off 4) failed. Even Yuvraj Singh (14 off 11) and Irfan Pathan (15 off 9) couldn’t go big and the Pakistan bowlers continued striking at regular intervals. Suresh Raina, meanwhile, stood firm on the crease as he hit 52 off 40 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes that ultimately went in vain.
Pawan Negi and Harbhajan Singh scored a run each and it was Anureet Singh who tried giving a final push with his 14-ball 20, hitting three sixes but the target of 244 was always going to be far from India. Team India could manage 175/9 in 20 overs as Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik picked up three wickets each and Sohail Khan and Sohail Tanvir bagged one each to help Pakistan clinch their third game of the tournament and sit at the top of the points table.
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