In the thrilling opening match of the World Championship of Legends, the Indian Champions led by their star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh got the better of KP’s England Champions. The Indian contingent chased down a modest target of 166 runs in 19 overs with 3 wickets to spare. Robin Uthappa stood out with a brisk 50 accompanied by Gurkureet Singh Mann who scored a rapid 33. In this article we will tell you all about the India vs England Champions Match.
England’s Champions Innings Summary:
Key Performers:
- Ian Bell: Anchored the innings with a solid knock of 59* off 44 balls, including 9 boundaries and 0 six, maintaining a strike rate of 134.09.
- Owais Shah: Provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 23 off 9 balls, featuring 3 boundary and 1 sixes at a strike rate of 255.56.
- Kevin Pietersen (c): Struggled to get going, scoring 4 runs off 9 balls before being caught and bowled by D Kulkarni.
- Phil Mustard (wk): Managed 13 runs off 24 balls with a strike rate of 54.17 before being caught by Raina off Harbhajan Singh.
- Samit Patel: Contributed 51 runs off 25 balls, getting bowled by Vinay Kumar.
Bowling Highlights:
- Harbhajan Singh: Key wicket-taker with 2 wickets, dismissing Mustard and Bopara.
- Vinay Kumar: Bowled economically and took the wicket of Samit Patel.
- D Kulkarni: Took the crucial wicket of the captain, Pietersen.
Extras:
- 5 extras, including 4 leg byes and 1 wide.
Total Score:
- England posted a competitive total of 165 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs.
Overall Performance: England’s innings was characterized by a steady start and a strong finish, thanks to contributions from Ian Bell and Owais Shah. The top order faced some challenges, but the middle and lower order ensured a defendable total.
“In cricket, as in any other profession, hard work, dedication, and determination are the keys to success.” ~Yuvraj Singh
India’s Champions Chase Summary:
Key Performers:
- Robin Uthappa: Played a match-winning knock of 50 off 32 balls, hitting 4 boundaries and 2 sixes, with a strike rate of 156.25.
- Naman Ojha (wk): Contributed 25 runs off 20 balls, striking at 125.00, before being caught by Owais Shah off Bopara.
- Suresh Raina: Added 16 runs off 17 balls, getting caught by the substitute S Mahmood off Schofield.
- Gurkeerat Singh Mann: Played a crucial inning of 33 off 17 balls, hitting 3 boundaries and 2 sixes, with a strike rate of 194.12, before being caught by Bopara off Schofield.
- Irfan Pathan: Made a quick 22 off 15 balls, including 1 boundary and 2 sixes, with a strike rate of 146.67, dismissed by Sidebottom off Bopara.
- Yusuf Pathan: Held his nerve to see India through with an unbeaten 5 off 5 balls.
- Harbhajan Singh: Remained not out with 6 runs off 1 balls.
Bowling Highlights:
- Chris Schofield: The standout bowler for England, taking 4 wickets, including the crucial scalps of Raina, Yuvraj, and Gurkeerat Singh Mann.
- Ravi Bopara: Contributed with 2 wickets, dismissing Ojha and Irfan Pathan.
- Ryan Sidebottom: Economical but did not take any wickets.
Extras:
- 7 extras, including 4 byes and 3 wides.
Total Score:
- India successfully chased down the target, scoring 166 for 7 in 19 overs.
India vs England Champions Match: Overall Performance
India’s chase was marked by aggressive batting and contributions from several players, with Robin Uthappa leading the charge. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, they maintained a high run rate and secured the victory with an over to spare. The efforts of Schofield and Bopara in the bowling department were commendable but ultimately not enough to stop India’s strong batting lineup.
Conclusion about the India vs England Champions Match:
In the thrilling India vs England Champions Match, the Indian Champions emerged victorious in a thrilling opening match of the World Championship of Legends. Set a target of 166 runs, they chased it down comfortably with 3 wickets and an over to spare. Robin Uthappa’s fifty and cameos from Gurkeerat Singh Mann and Irfan Pathan propelled India’s chase. While Chris Schofield picked up crucial wickets for England, their bowling attack couldn’t contain the Indian onslaught. This convincing win sets the tone for India in the tournament, while England will look to bounce back in their next match.
FAQs
1. Who won the match?
India Champions defeated England Champions by 3 wickets.
2. What was the target score for India?
166 runs.
3. Who were the key performers for India?
- Robin Uthappa (50 runs)
- Gurkeerat Singh Mann (33 runs)
- Irfan Pathan (22 runs)
4. Who was the leading wicket-taker for England?
Chris Schofield with 4 wickets.
