RSWS 2022: India Legends defeat England Legends by 40 runs in rain-hit match; Tendulkar, Yuvraj shine

Chasing a massive 171-run target in 15 overs, England Legends could only manage 130 runs for the loss of six wickets as spinner Rajesh Pawar shined with the ball for India Legends. It was the first match of the Dehradun leg after the opening match of this phase which was between West Indies and New Zealand was abandoned due to a wet outfield.

After batters tormented England bowlers, Pawar wreaked havoc in the second innings. He drew the first blood for the Indians and clean bowled Dimitri Mascarenhas for 12.

Pragyan Ojha then dismissed English captain Ian Bell, who was stumped by Naman Ojha for 12. Stuart Binny, then, clean bowled Rikki Clarke – who smashed a quick-fire fifty in the previous game for England – for 9.

Pawar then disturbed Tim Ambrose’s timber with his spin and the Men in Red were four down in 9.2 overs. Opener Phil Mustard – who was the highest scorer for England with his knock of 29 off 19 balls – became Pawar’s third victim as he was caught at cover by Tendulkar. The left-arm spinner – who has picked up 281 FC wickets – returned with figures of 12 for 3 from three overs.

Earlier in the day, the opening pair of Tendulkar and Naman Ojha smashed it all over the ground to give their team an explosive start after being put in to bat first.

The hosts attacked England bowlers inside the powerplay as 62 runs were scored in 5 overs. Leading his team by example, Tendulkar took on the offensive during this period and the Mumbaikar smashed 38* off 16 deliveries.

The right-handed batter targetted Chris Tremlett for two consecutive sixes and followed it up with a boundary. Naman Ojha was the first wicket to perish as the right-handed batter was caught at long-off by James Tindall off Stephen Parry. India Legends were 65/1 in 5.4 overs when Ojha departed for 20 off 17.

Sachin, who was looking in ominous touch as well, soon joined Ojha soon in the dugout after Chris Scofield took a fine return catch off his own bowling. The master blaster’s entertaining knock ended for 40 off 20 balls. His knock was studded with three sixes and as many fours.

Later, in-form Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina shared a stand of 50 runs for the third wicket and took India Legends past the 100-run mark. While the southpaw’s contribution was just 8 runs, Yusuf did the bulk of scoring as the right-handed batter smashed 27 off 11 balls. The elder of Pathan Brothers in the side struck three sixes and a boundary in his quick-fire knock.

India Legends lost Raina and Yusuf in a space of three balls but England’s woes didn’t end as Yuvraj Singh had other ideas. The left-handed batter from Punjab played a cameo of 31* off just 15 balls and received good support from Stuart Binny (18 off 11) and Irfan Pathan (11* off 9). In the last three overs, Yuvraj and Irfan accumulated 34 runs as India Legends posted a massive 170 in 15 overs as 13 towering sixes were hit in the first innings.