India Champions vs Australia Champions Match 11 Match Commentary: World Championship of Legends, 2024

1.11am  Right then, Australia Champions pick up their third win of the competition and edge India Champions to go outright second in the points table, virtually sealing a place in the knockouts. India Champions though will have to win their final game if they are to have a shot at qualifying. Anyway, gthere's still a lot more cricketing action to look forward to in the WCL on Tuesday, 9 July as there are a couple of crucial matches lined up that could change the shape of the points table. First, it will be West Indies Champions going up against England Champions which will begin at 5 pm IST (11.30 am GMT) followed by a clash between South Africa Champions and Pakistan Champions at 9 pm IST (3.30 pm GMT). Both matches will be played at the very same venue and you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up as well. Cheers!

1.08am  Brett Lee, the captain of Australia Champions says that it has been fun and applauds India for putting on a good show and is happy that his team could display their talent. Adds that the standard of cricket is outstanding in this tournament and it features world-class players and they can't wait to play these games. Mentions that once the boys hop on the bus, they do get excited to play.

1.07am  Yuvraj Singh the India Champions skipper says that the last 4 overs in the bowling were a bit hard for them to recover from. He further adds that he was not able to bat through the innings as he took it upon himself to get the side over the top. He talks about Ambati Rayudu and that his injury cost them a great deal as he was not able to open the innings for the side.

1.05am  Dan Christian is the Player of the Match for his stellar all-round showing. He starts by saying that it was good fun and the wicket was good too and he knew once he faced a few balls he would be able to get the big hits away. Jokes by saying that he hasn't been practicing much in the nets but adds that it is good to get the competitive juices flowing. Mentions that the mood in the group is very positive and it is fun to be enjoying with these people.

1.05am  ... TIME FOR THE PRESENTATIONS ...

12.57am  The Australian bowlers were outstanding, with each one contributing to the team’s success. Brett Lee led from the front, while the support from the rest of the bowling unit ensured that India never got ahead of the required run rate. In the end, it was a comprehensive victory for the Australia Champions, who have now secured their place in the Semi-Finals with this win. Their performance has been nothing short of spectacular, and they have set a high benchmark for the other teams in the tournament. As they look forward to the Semi-Finals, they will aim to continue their dominant run and clinch the championship title.

12.56am  Brett Lee and his team will be extremely pleased with their performance, showcasing a brand of cricket that has been both entertaining and effective. They will undoubtedly aim to carry this momentum into the upcoming big games, confident in their abilities and the depth of their squad. India Champions had a shaky start to their chase, losing key wickets early in the powerplay. The dismissals of Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan, and Suresh Raina within the first six overs put immense pressure on the Indian batting lineup. Despite this, skipper Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan attempted to stabilize the innings with a partnership in the middle overs. Yusuf Pathan was particularly impressive, scoring a brilliant 78 off 48 deliveries, keeping India's hopes alive until the 18th over. However, the Australian bowlers were relentless, maintaining tight lines and keeping the other Indian batsmen quiet. The pressure eventually proved too much, and the Indian innings fell short, making it a one-sided affair in favor of the Australians.

12.51am  The Australia Champions have secured a convincing victory and advanced to the Semi-Finals of the World Championship of Legends. It was yet another dominant performance by the mighty Australia Champions, who set a formidable target of 199 runs after being asked to bat first and then restricted the India Champions to 176 runs, winning the game by 23 runs. Dan Christian was the star of the show, playing a pivotal role with both bat and ball. His explosive knock of 69 runs off just 33 balls provided the momentum needed to reach a challenging total. Additionally, Christian's all-around brilliance was on display as he took a crucial wicket and made a couple of sharp catches in the field.

12.45am  Harbhajan Singh comes out to play the last ball of the innings.

OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the man in the deep! Peter Siddle bowls this one on a hard length and over the stumps, Yusuf Pathan stands tall and looks to just fetch and pull but doesn't get on top of the bounce. The ball gets hit a bit flat and straight down the throat of Nathan Coulter-Nile on the mid-wicket fence who makes no mistake and that brings about the end of a valiant knock from Yusuf.
Yusuf Pathan c N Coulter-Nile b P Siddle 78 (48b 11x4 1x6)