1st Semi-Final, Raipur, September 28, 2022, 07:30 PM
Australia Legends
171/5(20.0ov)
India Legends
175/5(19.2ov)
India Legends beat Australia Legends by 5 wickets
Right then! After almost 22 hours the first semi-final has come to an end. It's India Legends that have secured a spot in the final of the Road Safety World Series. The second semi-final will be played between Sri Lanka Legends and West Indies Legends on 30th September. The action is all set to begin at 7.30 pm IST (2.00 pm GMT), but as you all know our build-up will begin in advance. Do join us then. It's goodbye for now.
Naman Ojha is the Player of the Match. He starts by thanking his teammates and Sachin Tendulkar for backing him and calming his nerves in the middle. Admits that he was a bit nervous initially and Sachin asked him to stay calm. Mentions that when he hit the cover drive he felt the ball come from the middle and that made him confident. Claims that it was his dream growing up to play for India and with Sachin Tendulkar but he only got his opportunity now and he is grateful for it. Goes on to say that he has been playing loads of league cricket, so in touch with the game as he retired just 2 years back and adds that he is looking forward to the final.
Sachin Tendulkar, the victorious skipper is in for a chat. He starts by saying it was an unbelievable effort from the players. Adds it was a magnificent performance from the spinners as well yesterday night. Praises Naman Ojha for batting throughout the innings. Mentions, Irfan Pathan made it look super easy in the death but that wasn't the case. Adds Abhimanyu Mithun was very good but overall it's been a really great team effort. Says whenever you are in the dugout during such tricky games, it surely gets nervous but they focus on how they can change the approach in the upcoming overs.
Shane Watson the skipper of Australia Legends says it was a great game of cricket and they did well in the middle. Claims that 170 was a good total and they did well to get there. Adds that the game could have gone either way and Irfan Pathan played really well to take the game away from them but the game was always on a knife edge. Mentions that it has been a lot of fun and he is enjoying his low time playing with the other guys who have retired. Admits that he never expected to represent his country on the day he retired and says it's good to be back in the jersey. He credits the organizers for making this possible and he hopes he can come back soon to play.
Stay tuned for the presentation....
Irfan Pathan says that he just wanted to go all out, take three or four balls and then go after the bowlers. Credits Naman Ojha and says he did exceedingly well with all the batters around him playing their part. Claims that the physios have done an outstanding job on him as he has played a lot of games in recent games. Mentions that playing for India is a privilege and to get to do that after retirement is amazing. Adds that playing with Sachin Tendulkar and sharing the dressing room with him is an honor. Ends by saying that they have a big game coming up and they will play to the best of their abilities
Earlier in the match, we witnessed an intriguing contest between bat and ball from these two sides. Australia got off to a flier after being asked to bat first. But India Legends did exceptionally well to pull things back in their favor. However, a cameo from Cameron White in the fag end ensured Australia get over the 170-mark. In reply, India Legends chased down the target after facing a few speed breakers on their way. Naman Ojha and Irfan Pathan were the stand-out players for India Legends in the chase.
It was always going to be a tough task for Australia Legends to defend a target of just over 170 against a formidable batting lineup. The Men in Yellow did not get off to a bright start but did well to get back in the game during the middle phase. However, it was the penultimate over of Dirk Nannes that cost them the game. Skipper, Shane Watson was the stand-out bowler, who grabbed two wickets in his spell of three overs.
India were off to a solid start and were firmly sitting in the driving seat at the end of the first 10 overs of the chase. Naman Ojha was the one who got India Legends to a great start along with a handy cameo from Yuvraj Singh. India Legends were on the right track to chase this one down comfortably, but they faced a min-collapse after the 13th over which swung the momentum towards Australia Legends. Irfan Pathan then came out all guns blazing and took India Legends over the line along with Naman Ojha who remained unbeaten on 90.
What a thrilling game of cricket this turned out to be! But it's India Legends who march on to the final to defend their title, thanks to a blistering knock of 39 off 12 balls from Irfan Pathan. While the newbies of the tournament, Australia Legends have been shown the exit door. They have done well though to reach the semi-final on their debut in this competition.
In over# 20
4
1wd
1
Brett Lee 19/0(3.2)
19.2
4
FOUR! Irfan Pathan gets the winning runs in some fine fashion. It is fuller, attacking the pads. Irfan Pathan stays back and flicks it over the infield on the leg to bag a boundary. India Legends win the match by 5 wickets.
19.2
1wd
WIDE! Scores level now! It is fuller, wide outside off, it goes past the tramline thinks the umpire and signals a wide.
19.1
1
Full length, on the pads, Ojha tucks it to square leg for a single.
In over# 19
1
0
1
6
1wd
6
6
Dirk Nannes 56/0(4)
18.6
1
Very full, on off. Naman Ojha knocks it down to long off for one. India Legends just need 3 runs off 6 balls.
18.5
.
Fuller, outside off, moving away. Ojha looks to drive it away but misses.
18.4
1
This is worked towards mid off for one.
18.3
6
SIX! Irfan Pathan wants to end things in a hurry here. It is fuller, on off. Irfan Pathan flexs his muscles and smokes it over the bowler's head for six more. The crowd is going beserk here.
18.3
1wd
WIDE! This is wide outside off, outside the tramline. Irfan Pathan leaves it alone. Wide called.
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