India Legends enter Road Safety World Series finals after registering the highest total of the tournament!
India Legends enter the finals of the inaugural edition of Unacademy Road Safety World Series after beating West Indies Legends by 12 runs in a high scoring thriller of a semi-final. Both teams managed to score 424 runs in 40 overs together!
SEHWAG START
Earlier captain Brian Lara put India to bat as openers Sehwag and Tendulkar showcased vintage display as they turned back clocks to put on a 56-run partnership in 5.3 overs. Sehwag was the aggressor scoring 35 runs in 17 balls before being caught and bowled by Tino Best.
TENDULKAR TOP SCORES AGAIN
Sachin Tendulkar top scored for India with 42 ball 62 runs – India were 140-3 in 14.1 overs at his exit. Tendulkar reached his half century in 36 balls with a boundary and then hit 2 sixes before being dismissed by Tino Best – caught at the boundary by a almost balanced Kirk Edwards while attempting a slice shot for a maximum!
This was the second consecutive time, Sachin Tendulkar top scored for India Legends.
Yuvraj Singh joined Yusuf Pathan who was in smashing form punishing the bowlers around him. By 18 overs India were 178-3 with Yuvraj Singh on 10* in 9 balls.
Yuvraj Singh SIXES RAIN!
Leg spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo was asked to bowl the 19th over of the innings and Yuvraj Singh wasted no time to unleash his usual self! Yuvraj hit 4 sixes in the first 5 balls of the over and made his intentions clear. The flamboyant left hander hit 2 more sixes off the last over by Sulieman Benn to power India to 218-3 in 20 overs – the highest score by any team in this tournament!
Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan put on a partnership of 78 runs in 5.5 overs.
Dwayne Smith fireworks
Chasing a huge target of 219 to enter the finals, West Indies kicked off with a 18 run over off Irfan Pathan but Manpreet Gony got rid of the fiery William Perkins trapped infront for 9 in 5 balls. Last match hero Narsingh Deonarine joined in the dangerous Dwayne Smith.
Smith was as explosive as he could get smacking 4,4,6 off the last 3 balls of powerplay to pump Windies Legend to 71-1 in 6 overs. Dwayne Smith reached his half century in 30 balls with a boundary – Post half century he got a life saver in the form of a Yusuf Pathan drop catch at long on.
Smith smacked 9 fours and 2 sixes in his knock of 63 runs in 36 balls before departing in the bowling of Irfan Pathan as Yusuf Pathan caught it and redeemed some fielding faith. West Indies Legends already had 118-2 in 10.5 overs at the departure of explosive Smith!
Left Handed Mayhem
Dwayne Smith and Narsingh Deonarine put on a 99 run partnership in 64 balls to push India on the back forward. Kirk Edwards was stumped out for a golden duck in the bowling of Pragyan Ojha as captain Lara walked in to steady the situation.
Deonarine brought up yet another classy half century to keep the West Indies Legends in the hunt as Brian Lara looked at his explosive best than in any other match in the whole tourney so far!
Captain Lara was unbeaten on 39 runs in 22 balls smacking 3 fours and 2 sixes as the winning equation got reduced to 32 runs to win in last 3 overs!
The Indian comeback
Captain Tendulkar resorted to Manpreet Gony in the 18th over – he conceded just 7 runs off his over as he mixed up his pace to bring doubt in the mind of the batsmen. West Indies Legends now needed 25 runs to win in 2 overs!
Vinay Kumar bowled the 19th over but had a dismal start with Brian Lara smashing 6 runs in the first 2 balls to push India on the back foot. Kumar made a great comeback when he bowled out Brian Lara who was a tad early in tackling a well disguised slower delivery! Tino Best was sent in to get some quick runs but his stay was short who mistimed a slower ball by Vinay Kumar and skied it for the cool head of Naman Ojha to grab it. Brian Lara was clearly frustrated by this shot by Best and expressed it without any inhibition.
West Indies needed 17 runs to win in 6 balls as Irfan Pathan was handed over the ball. Nagamootoo was on strike as Best crossed the line before being caught off the last delivery in the previous over!
This is how things unfolded in the final over:
First ball swing and a miss – slower delivery on the off stump line by Pathan. Second ball – single by Nagamootoo to put Deonarine on strike. Third ball – Deonarine hits it straight down to long on but attempts to get back for 2 runs – a great throw by Vinay Kumar from the deep – Naman Ojha collects it and removes the bails – RUN OUT!!! The match is now very much in India’s control. West Indies now need 15 to win in 3 balls!
New Batsman Sulieman Benn could only get 2 runs in the last 3 balls – a top class last over by Irfan Pathan as India Legends powered themselves to finals of the first edition of Road Safety World Series. A valiant effort by West Indies Legends brave hearts – almost there but quite not enough! India Legends must thank Yuvraj Singh’s slog which made the difference in the last 2 overs of each innings!
Match Summary
India 218-3 in 20 overs
Virender Sehwag 35 (17) – 5 fours & 1 six
Sachin Tendulkar 65 (42) – 6 fours & 3 sixes
Mohammad Kaif 27 (21) – 2 fours & 2 sixes
Yusuf Pathan 37*(20) – 2 fours & 3 sixes
Yuvraj Singh 49*(20) – 1 four & 6 sixes
Tino Best 4-0-25-2
West Indies Legends 206-6 in 20 overs
Dwayne Smith 63 (36) – 9 fours & 2 sixes
William Perkins 9 (5) – 2 fours
Narsingh Deonarine 59 (44) – 5 fours & 2 sixes
Brian Lara 46 (28) – 4 fours and 2 sixes
Vinay Kumar 3-0-26-2
INDIA LEGENDS WON BY 12 RUNS
MAN OF THE MATCH: Yuvraj Singh
My dream team will feature Marcus Trescothick and Anil Kumble
