Pakistan Champions continued their unbeaten streak in the World Championship of Legends tournament, outplaying Indian Champions in a high-scoring match in Birmingham on Saturday, July 6. Pakistan Champions scored 243 runs to win by 68 runs at Edgbaston. Kamran Akmal and Sharjeel Khan were Pakistan’s stars, scoring 77 off 40 balls and 72 off 30 balls in an opening stand of 145 runs. None of the Indian Champions’ bowlers, including RP Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni and Harbhajan Singh, could stop the flow of runs as Pakistan Champions’ two openers overpowered the Indian bowling attack.
Kamran Akmal batted at the top of the order and took the fans down memory lane with four sixes and nine boundaries, while Sharjeel displayed some powerful batting skills with five sixes and seven boundaries.
Pakistan lost their first wicket – Sharjeel only in the 11th over when medium-speed batsman Anureet Singh got the big hitter out – but number three batsman Sohaib Maqsood kept the momentum going, smashing for 51 off just 26 balls.
Kamran Akmal was run out by Pawan Negi in the 14th over but Pakistan still had enough attacking firepower left to make the most of the final over. Shoaib Malik scored 25 off 18 balls to help the Pakistan Champions post 243 for four in their 20-over quota.
RP Singh was India’s most economical bowler with just 38 runs and 1 conceded in his 4 overs, while Irfan Pathan was a complete loss conceding 25 runs in his only over.
In reply, Robin Uthappa hit two sixes to score 22 off 12 balls and give India a bright start. Ambati Rayudu also contributed as he led the batting line-up by scoring 39 off just 23 balls.
Suresh Raina and Rayudu added 61 for the second wicket before the latter’s wicket tipped the scales in favour of the Pakistan champions in the eighth over.
With little support from the other end, Raina hit 52 off 40 balls. Mainstays Yusuf Pathan, captain Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan struggled to put in an effort and missteps in the middle-order cost India the match in Birmingham.
Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik were Pakistan’s best bowlers with three wickets each.
The Indian champions, who began their campaign with wins over England and the West Indies, will not be looking to bounce back when they face Australia on Monday before taking on South Africa in the final round-robin match on Wednesday. The top four in the six-team World Championship of Legends will play in the semi-finals later in the week.
