BIRMINGHAM: India Champions secured a thrilling five-wicket victory over Pakistan Champions in the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2024, held at Edgbaston Stadium on Saturday. This triumph marks India’s maiden title in the inaugural edition of the tournament.
The Men in Green, after winning the toss and opting to bat, posted a total of 156/6. However, their innings got off to a shaky start with Sharjeel Khan departing early, scoring just 9 runs off 12 balls. Sohaib Maqsood tried to stabilize the innings with a score of 21 before being bowled by Vinay Kumar, adding pressure on the Pakistan Champions. Kamran Akmal (9 off 24) and Younis Khan (7) were unable to capitalize on their starts, further hindering the team’s progress.
Shoaib Malik provided a steadying hand, remaining composed to score 41 off 36 balls, though the slowness of the pitch restricted his ability to accelerate. Misbah-ul-Haq contributed 18 runs off 15 balls before being retired out, and a late surge from Sohail Tanvir, who remained unbeaten on 19, helped push Pakistan’s total above 150. Anureet Singh was the standout bowler for India, taking three crucial wickets.
In their chase, India Champions started steadily and maintained the momentum, thanks to contributions from their seasoned lineup. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the Indian team kept the required run rate in check. The chase culminated in the final over, with India successfully reaching the target of 157, securing a memorable victory.
Playing XIs:
India Champions: Robin Uthappa (w), Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh (c), Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Pawan Negi, Vinay Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Rahul Shukla, Anureet Singh
Pakistan Champions: Kamran Akmal (w), Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan (c), Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan
The victory in the WCL 2024 final underscores India Champions’ dominance and strategic prowess in the legends format, setting a high benchmark for future editions of the tournament. This win not only adds to their illustrious cricketing history but also showcases the enduring talent and competitive spirit of cricket legends.
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