Match 1, Birmingham, July 03, 2024, 05:00 PM
England Champions
165/4(20.0ov)
India Champions
166/7(19.0ov)
India Champions beat England Champions by 3 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Robin Uthappa
Commentry
Right then, that's it from the coverage of this game. Indian Champions get off to a winning start here. England Champions on the other hand would hope to find their opening win in the next encounter which is on the 4th of July, Thursday. Now the attention shifts to the second game of the evening as Australia Champions are set to take on Pakistan Champions. The toss is just a few moments away and the first ball will be at 9 pm IST (3.30 pm GMT). Do switch tabs and connect with us for another entertaining affair. Take care and goodbye.
Robin Uthappa is PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fantastic 50 off 32. He says that it felt pretty good. Adds he has been playing a lot of paddle tennis and it has become a part of his daily routine and tries to stay fit. Says he is certainly playing a couple of hours which is adding up to his game. Ends by saying that it feels nice to be with these guys again as it brings in a lot of laughter, fun, and memories of the past.
Yuvraj Singh, the winning captain is in for a chat now. He starts by saying that he does not like these nerves of International Cricket. States that it was important to win the toss. Feels that 160 was a good score on this wicket, but with Robin Uthappa opening they did manage to get a solid start and that later partnership between Irfan Pathan and Gurkeerat Singh Mann did the trick for them in the end.
Kevin Pietersen, the captain of England Champions says losing the toss didn't help them. He says in terms of the tournament the opening game going down to the wire couldn't be more better. Says Samit Patel and Ian Bell did well with the bat. Adds that the guys were a bit rusty but it is understandable. Says they need to improve in the fielding department. Further says he had a chat with Yuvraj Singh and says that at the start, they couldn't hit the ball well as it wasn't coming onto the bat easily. Ends by saying they will make a strong comeback in the next game against South Africa Champions.
Stay tuned for the presentation...
Things looked pretty tight with the last 5 overs remaining, as India Champions went on to lose 4 wickets from the period of 10 to 15 overs, but a handy cameo from Gurkeerat Singh Mann at the fag end took India closer to the win. He wanted to finish the game off in a hurry but ended up giving away his wicket, with an experienced Yusuf Pathan on the crease, who then took the matter into his own hands. Found a boundary in the 19th over first and later it was Harbhajan Singh who put the cherry on the top with his spectacular finish. Ravi Bopara was also quite effective with the ball in hand as he finished with two wickets to his name.
India Champions were off to a flier while chasing 166 runs here, with Robin Uthappa and Naman Ojha hitting the ball really well, as compared to their running between the wickets, as they created a couple of chances for England Champions but the fielders could not capitalize on it. The openers made sure to hurt the opposition from the get go here and stitched a solid opening-stand. Then later, once Ojha departed the scoring rate did not take any dip with Robin Uthappa striking the ball really well from his end, only for Suresh Raina to play the second-fiddle. At the halfway mark, the India Champions were sitting solid with nine wickets in hand. Although once Uthappa departed some doubts surely started to creep in for India Champions, with Chris Schofield turning on the heat with the ball in hand. He went on to pick up a four-wicket haul in the end which took this game down to the wire.
Phew! I'm sure a few Indians lost their nails in the last 9 deliveries, but nevertheless, the birthday boy finishes things off in style. He faced just one delivery and that's what he needed to get India Champions to a winning start in this tournament. England Champions made a game out of nothing in the second half of the run-chase but the quality in this Indian side is enough to seal the game here.
In over# 19
6
1
4
0
0
0W
Ravi Bopara 32/2(4)
18.6
6
SIX! THE BIRTHDAY BOY 'TURBANATOR' FINISHES THE JOB IN STYLE FOR INDIA CHAMPIONS! Ravi Bopara serves it right into the slot, in front of the stumps, Harbhajan Singh simply clears his front foot and clobbers it mercilessly downtown over long on for a six. Just for a brief moment, it felt like the fielder at long on was in play. He leaps to his fullest in the air to pluck it but the ball sails over his right hand and clears the fence. India Champions win this curtain raiser of the World Championship of Legends by 3 wickets.
18.5
1
Angles it on the pads, on a fuller length, Yusuf Pathan flicks it behind the square and runs the first quickly but denies for the second as the fielder at deep square leg is quick to throw it flat to the keeper. Just a hit away from the victory then, as 6 runs are needed off the last 7 balls.
18.4
4
FOUR! A pressure-releasing boundary there for India Champions! Quicker and outside off, Yusuf Pathan uses the width to perfection, and cuts it through backward point for a boundary. Just 7 needed from 8 balls now.
18.3
.
Bit full and on off, Yusuf Pathan tries to guide the ball but it is too full to play that shot and gets beaten.
18.2
.
Length ball outside off, Yusuf Pathan guides it to short third.
Harbhajan Singh comes out with the sword now.
OUT! RUN OUT! Full and on the stumps, Yusuf Pathan shovels it out hard, back to the bowler. Ravi Bopara bends low to his right and gets a deflection off his fingertips. The ball breaks into the stumps at the non-striker's end where Vinay Kumar is out of the popping crease. An unfortunate way to get out.
18.1
W
OUT! RUN OUT! Full and on the stumps, Yusuf Pathan shovels it out hard, back to the bowler. Ravi Bopara bends low to his right and gets a deflection off his fingertips. The ball breaks into the stumps at the non-striker's end where Vinay Kumar is out of the popping crease. An unfortunate way to get out.
In over# 18
0
0
0W
6
6
4
Chris Schofield 33/4(4)
17.6
.
Another one that turns dramatically, full and outside off, Vinay Kumar gets an outside edge that falls just ahead of the first slip. 11 runs needed off the last 12 balls remaining.
17.5
.
Beautifully bowled! Turns it from within the stumps to outside off, Vinay Kumar lunges out to block it but gets beaten on the outside edge.