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Winless in three matches, defending champions led by Yuvraj Singh needed a big win to qualify for the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 semifinals. They did not just need to beat West Indies Champions but do it in a fashion that their net run rate is better than England Champions. On July 29, Stuart Binny's unbeaten 21-ball 50 and cameos from Yuvraj, Yusuf Pathan helped India chase down the target of 145 in 13.2 overs.
India are set to face Pakistan Champions in the semifinal at Edgbaston, Birmingham on July 31. While India chose not to play their league stage game against Pakistan amidst political tensions between the two teams, it will be interesting to see if the clash takes place this time. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given the nod to T20 Asia Cup 2025 matches between India and Australia, WCL is a private entity.
West Indies suffer batting collapse
In the must-win clash, Yuvraj won the toss and opted to bowl first. Chris Gayle hit a couple of fours before getting bowled by Varun Aaron. The pacer dismissed Chadwick Walton for a two-ball duck in the same over. In the sixth over, Piyush Chawla struck twice to knock over Lendl Simmons and William Perkins. West Indies were 32/4 after powerplay overs. Dwayne Smith succumbed to pressure and departed for a 21-ball 20 to Binny. West Indies lost half their side for 43 in the ninth over.
Pollard takes West Indies to respectable total
Pollard took his time in the middle before taking down the bowlers. Meanwhile, Dwayne Bravo lost his wicket to left-arm spinner Pawan Negi for just nine runs from 20 balls. In his last over, Chawla got the wicket of Ashley Nurse. Then Binny got rid of Dave Mohammed. In the 18th over, Nikita Miller was run out for a single-digit score. In the penultimate over, Pollard hit a couple of sixes. He reached his fifty from 32 balls. In the final over, he hit Aaron for two sixes to take West Indies Champions to 144/9. Pollard remained unbeaten for 74 off 43 balls. He hit three fours and eight sixes.
Binny stars in run chase
India got off to a good start in the run chase. But Sheldon Cottrell broke the opening partnership in the fourth over with the wicket of Robin Uthappa. In the fifth over, Shikhar Dhawan fell for an 18-ball 25. India Champions were 48/2 after powerplay overs. Gurkeerat Singh failed to make an impact and departed for a single-digit score. Bravo was introduced into the attack and got the wicket of Suresh Raina. After the wicket, he conceded three fours in the over.
Binny continued the onslaught as India needed to finish run chase early. In the 12th over, Binny hit Bravo for two sixes. Bravo got the consolation wicket of Yuvraj who scored 21 runs from 11 balls. India needed to chase down the target in 14.1 overs but Yusuf Pathan hit a six to finish off the run chase in 13.2 overs. Binny remained not out for 50 from 21 balls. Yusuf hit two sixes and a four in his unbeaten 7-ball 21.
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