The World Championship of Legends 2024 final did not turn out to be a high-scoring one. Younis Khan's Pakistan posted a total of 156/6 which was not enough at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Opener Ambati Rayudu's half-century and Yusuf Pathan's 16-ball 30 cameo helped India win by five wickets with five balls to spare to lift the trophy on July 13.
No fireworks from Pakistan batters
Earlier, Younis won the toss and opted to bat first. Sharjeel Khan hit a couple of boundaries before he fell to Anureet Singh in the second over. Sohaib Maqsood hit the first six of the innings in the fourth over. He targetted Vinay Kumar too but handed an easy catch to deep square leg fielder Rahul Shukla. Kamran Akmal hit Pawan Negi for three fours in an over as Pakistan Champions had 55/2 on the board after powerplay overs. After a slot start, Shoaib Malik hit Harbhajan Singh for a six. Akmal could not anchor the innings and lost his wicket to Negi. At the halfway stage, Pakistan were 72/3.
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Younis and Malik struggled to hit boundaries. Irfan Pathan in his second over got rid of Younis with a beautiful delivery to exploit the bat-pad gap and hit the timber. Misbah-ul-Haq ended the boundary drought in the 15th over as he was dropped by Yuvraj Singh at covers. Malik tried to accelerate and hit Vinay for a maximum. In the 17th over, Misbah pulled his hamstring and retired hurt. In the next over, Anureet conceded 12 runs but dismissed Aamer Yamin and Malik. He played the role of an anchor and scored 41 runs from 36 deliveries. Sohail Tanvir's nine-ball 19 cameo helped Pakistan post 156/6.
Rayudu rises to the occasion
Rayudu got the run chase off to a good start. He hit Yamin for a four followed by a six over long-off. In his second over, Yamin struck twice to dismiss Robin Uthappa and Suresh Raina. The run rate went down after the double strike but India had 55/2 after powerplay overs. Rayudu stitched a crucial partnership with Gurkeerat Singh Mann. India were 89/2 after 10 overs. Rayudu reached his half-century from 29 balls in the 11th over. In the next over, he lost his wicket to Saeed Ajmal. Malik did damage in his first over and dismissed Gurkeerat who scored 34 runs from 33 balls.
Pathan brothers finish it off
Yusuf hit a six as the required run rate was going up in the 15th over. He targetted Ajmal in the next over as well. But Wahab Riaz bowled an economical over to help Pakistan stay in the contest. Yuvraj struggled to hit boundaries. But Yusuf reached pressure with a six off Riaz. It turned out to be a consolation as Irfan finished the run chase with a boundary in the final over. Yuvraj remained unbeaten for 15 off 22 balls in the successful run chase.
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