On Thursday, India Legends qualified for the final of the Road Safety World Series after beating Australia Legends, courtesy of a special knock from all-rounder Irfan Pathan. With India Legends in trouble, Pathan churned out his finishing ability and smashed an unbeaten 39-run knock, smashing four sixes and a couple of boundaries.
Notably, Irfan Pathan struck all sixes off Australia legends’ pacer, Dirk Nannes, one in the 17th over, followed by three more in the penultimate over of the match. With just one run needed off five deliveries, Pathan hit legendary Australia pacer Brett Lee for a four over midwicket to finish things off.
This guy never disappoints us when he’s on strike
Well played @irfanpathan_official 🏏🤩Keep watching #RoadSafetyWorldSeries, live now only on #ColorsCineplex, @justvoot, @CCSuperhits and @Sports18.#IndiaLegends #AustraliaLegends #RSWS2022 pic.twitter.com/DSFq37KU36
— Colors Cineplex (@Colors_Cineplex) September 29, 2022
Irfan pathan still deserves to play in Team India XI
What a player 🔥#IndiaLegends into FINALS 👏#irfanpathan #RoadSafetyWorldSeries2022 #RoadSafetyWorldSeries @RSWorldSeries @IrfanPathan pic.twitter.com/zAek0RXk07— Ayodhya karthik (@ayodhyakarthik) September 29, 2022
India Legends captain Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter and congratulated the players on the win.
“Super effort by Team India. Bowlers did a fantastic job in tough conditions yesterday. Special mention to @namanojha35 & @IrfanPathan for their knocks today. Keep going strong!” he tweeted.
Super effort by Team India.
Bowlers did a fantastic job in tough conditions yesterday. Special mention to @namanojha35 & @IrfanPathan for their knocks today.
Keep going strong! 🇮🇳#RoadSafetyWorldSeries pic.twitter.com/n1HqWbYnHF— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 29, 2022
Batting first, Australia Legends witnessed a flying start as they made an opening partnership of 60 runs as skipper Shane Watson played a blistering knock of 30 in just 21 balls. For India Legends, their spinner Rahul Sharma churned out a crucial breakthrough in the eighth over to dismiss Watson and break the crucial partnership.
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Ben Dunk carried forward the momentum and played a fiery knock of 46. However, Dunk’s innings came to end in the 16th over as Abhimanyu Mithun sent him back to the dressing room. With Cameron White’s 30 off 18 balls, the Aussies finished with a defendable total of 171. Mithun and Yusuf Pathan picked up two wickets each in the game.
India Legends, during the run chase, suffered an early blow with the dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar, who departed in the sixth over. India’s other opening batter Ojha was in sublime form in the game and forged two crucial partnerships with Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan. Ojha’s innings comprised seven boundaries and five sixes.
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Irfan’s arrival eventually proved to be decisive for India Legends. The all-rounder smashed a couple of boundaries and four sixes to score 37 off just 12 balls. Pathan and Ojha stitched a 50-run partnership to guide India Legends to a thumping semi-final victory. The second semi-final between Sri Lanka Legends and West Indies Legends will be play today. The summit clash of the tournament is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Raipur.
