WCL | Bhajji seals it with dashing six ensure Indian Champions begin in style against England

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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India Champions chased down a stiff target of 166 in the inaugural match of the World Championship of Legends 2024 to beat England Champions by three wickets in Edgbaston. Frequent fall of wickets meant the game hung in the balance until the penultimate over when Harbhajan Singh hit a decisive blow.

Brief score: INDC 166/7 (19) [Uthappa 50(32), Gurkeerat 33(17); Schofield 4/33(4)] defeat ENGC 165/3 (20) [Bell 59*(44), Patel 51(25); Harbhajan 2/16(3)] by three wickets

Batting first, England Champions lost their skipper Kevin Pietersen early for a sluggish haul of four and struggled to get away to leave the score reeling at 22/1 after six overs. However, Ian Bell eventually decided to break the shackles with a few boundaries, even as Phil Mustard departed at the other end for a 24-ball 13, and was joined by hard-hitting Samit Patel. The duo added 73 rapid runs for the third wicket and once Samit departed for an explosive 25-31, Owais Shah took things a notch further with a 9-ball onslaught of 23 to take the team's score up to 165/4.

In response, India Champions put their rivals under the pump early as Robin Uthappa and Naman Ojha flew off the blocks, racking up 54 runs in the powerplay. The latter's departure soon after ended the 62-run stand but Uthappa kept the scoreboard ticking alongside Suresh Raina. The veteran departed immediately after bringing up a 31-ball half-century but India were well-placed at 90/2 after 11 overs. Trouble began when Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh departed in the space of three deliveries, leaving two new batters at the crease. Nonetheless, Irfan Pathan;s 15-ball 22 and Gurkeerat Singh Mann's 17-ball 33 meant victory was in sights, until another mini-collapse saw India leaving six runs off seven deliveries with just three wickets in hand. It was here that Harbhajan Singh strod out confidently and smashed Ravi Bopare over his head for a gorgeous maximum to seal the tirumph.

What a finish!

Hit a six and win

Happy birtday

Birthday boy

In style

Thats a shot

Finished it in style

Beat England

Warrior

Fearless

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