West Indies Champions Archives

India beat West Indies to set up semi-final clash with Pakistan in WCL 2025

LEICESTER: Stuart Binny’s brisk half-century and Yusuf Pathan’s late blitz powered India Champions to a thrilling win over West Indies Champions in the 15th fixture of World Championship of Legends 2025 (WCL) 2025 here on Tuesday at Grace Road.

With this victory, India secured a spot in the WCL 2025 semi-finals and will face arch-rivals Pakistan on Thursday in Birmingham.

The defending champions chased down the 145-run target in 14.1 overs and booked a place in the final four of WCL 2025.

India Champions provided a brisk start as they raced to 27 runs in 3.1 overs, losing Robin Uthappa, who made eight from seven balls.

Shikhar Dhawan looked in great form; however, the West Indies removed him to make the chase more tense for the India Champions. The southpaw made 25 from 18 deliveries with the help of two sixes and two fours.

As a result, India Champions were reduced to 36-2 in 4.4 overs.

West Indies Champions further tighten the grip on the match with back-to-back wickets in successive overs.

First, Dwayne Smith removed Gurkeerat Singh Mann (7) in the seventh over, whereas experienced Dwayne Bravo scalped Suresh Raina (7), leaving India in deep trouble.

However, skipper Yuvraj Singh and Stuart Binny stitched a match-winning stand of 66 runs, which propelled the defending champions near the total.

Yuvraj, who scored 21 off 11 balls, was removed in the 12th over, striking two fours and a six. Meanwhile, Binny continued his onslaught, joined by Yusuf Pathan in a decisive stand.

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With the India Champions requiring 24 runs from 13 balls, Pathan and Binny took Fidel Edwards to the cleaners and accumulated 20 runs off the over.

Consequently, Yusuf Pathan hit a maximum on the second ball of the 14th over to take his team home.

Binny made 50* off 21 balls, peppered with four sixes and three fours, whereas Yusuf cameo off 21 from seven balls, included two sixes and a four.

For the West Indies Champions, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith bagged two wickets each.

Earlier, Kieron Pollard’s gutsy knock powered the West Indies Champions to a competitive total.

Put into bat first, the West Indies mustered 144-9 in their allocated 20 overs.

West Indies Champions started their innings on a poor note in a crucial encounter, losing four wickets inside the power play.

Varun Aaron was impressive with the new ball as he cleaned up Chris Gayle (9) and Chadwick Walton for a golden duck in one over.

Meanwhile, Lendl Simmons, who faced 11 deliveries for his two, and William Perkins went back to the pavilion in a similar manner as the West Indies were reduced to 32-4 in 5.5 overs.

Dwayne Smith, who made 20 off 21 balls with the help of two boundaries, was caught, leaving his team in dire straits at 43-5.

With the West Indies Champions in deep trouble, the crisis man, Kieron Pollard, arrived, and he forged a brief stand with Dwayne Bravo, bringing the score to 72 in 13 overs.

Pollard played aggressively, whereas Bravo held one end; however, he was removed just when the West Indies Champions were looking to launch.

India continued to take wickets and build pressure, and at one stage, the West Indies were reeling at 111-9 in 17.2 overs.

However, Kieron Pollard’s lusty blows in the last few overs took his team towards a fighting total. He made 74 off 43 balls, smashing eight sixes and three fours.

For the India Champions, Piyush Chawla took three wickets. Stuart Binny and Varun Aaron scalped two wickets each.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan players train on beach ahead of West Indies T20Is

Kamran Akmal’s blazing ton helps Pakistan Champions crush West Indies

LEEDS: Kamran Akmal rolled back the years with a scintillating century as Pakistan Champions outclassed West Indies Champions by 49 runs in their World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 clash at Headingley on Saturday.

Batting first, Pakistan Champions piled up a formidable 200-4, thanks to a breathtaking 113 off just 62 balls by Kamran Akmal.

The veteran wicketkeeper-batter smashed 13 fours and five sixes to anchor the innings after an explosive 65-run opening stand with Sharjeel Khan, who chipped in with a 14-ball 21.

Sohaib Maqsood (17) and skipper Mohammad Hafeez (23 off 18) played supporting roles as Pakistan Champions crossed the 200-run mark.

Asif Ali stayed unbeaten on 10 off 10 in the final overs.

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West Indies Champions struggled to keep up with the asking rate in the chase, managing only 151-7 in their 20 overs.

Chadwick Walton top-scored with a 30-ball 42, while William Perkins and Dwayne Bravo added 30 each.

Ashley Nurse contributed a 25-run cameo, but it was never going to be enough for the West Indies Champions.

Rumman Raees ripped through the top order with a sensational opening spell, grabbing 3-4 in three overs. Aamer Yamin and Sohail Tanvir bagged two wickets apiece to stifle the Windies’ hopes.

The comprehensive win puts Pakistan Champions on top of the WCL 2025 points table with seven points from four matches. West Indies Champions, meanwhile, remain on two points after as many games.

READ: India-Pakistan clash confirmed as Asia Cup 2025 schedule unveiled

WCL 2025: Chris Lynn’s explosive 81 powers Australia to victory over West Indies

NORTHAMPTON: Chris Lynn’s electrifying 81 off 27 balls powered Australia Champions to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over West Indies Champions in World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 here at the Country Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Chasing a meagre target of 143 runs in the seventh encounter of WCL 2025, Australia Champions knocked the winning runs in only 9.3 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Australia Champions started briskly in modest chase, smashing 34 in only 3 overs and losing only one wicket in the process. Chris Lynn was the core aggressor while Shaun Marsh was cleaned up by Ashley Nurse for nine.

Following the wicket, Lynn, known for his six-hitting power, tonked West Indies bowlers all around the park. He reached his half-century on just 20 balls. During his power show, Australia accumulated more than 15 in an over with ease.

He was eventually out in the eighth over as Australia’s scorecard read 111. Chris Lynn’s blazing knock featured eight towering sixes and half a dozen fours.

Following his departure, Ben Dunk took charge and smashed 30 off just 9 balls, laced with three sixes to seal a dominant victory for his side.

For West Indies Champions, Nikita Miller and Ashley Nurse picked up one wicket each.

Earlier, Peter Siddle’s three-wicket haul restricted West Indies’ explosive batting line-up from scoring big against Australia Champions.

Put it into bat first, West Indies Champions finished their innings for the loss of eight wickets in their allocated 20 overs.

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Australia Champions capitalized on the decision to bowl first, removing the opener William Perkins (10) only in the second over. However, following an early setback, Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle partnered for a 36-run stand.

Gayle scored 21 off 15, laced with four boundaries, before getting dismissed once the fielding restrictions were lifted. Soon after, Smith followed him, scoring 22 of 20 deliveries with the help of a six and three fours.

All of a sudden, West Indies Champions were reduced to 56-4 as previous match hero Chadwick Walton departed for a first-ball duck.

Australia Champions continued to strike at regular intervals, which prevented the West Indies’ Champions from reaching an imposing total. Lendl Simmons top-scored with 29 off 28 balls with the aid of two maximums and a four.

For Australia, Peter Siddle was the standout bowler, taking three wickets in his four overs, while Nathan Coulter-Nile scalped two wickets.

The WCL 2025 is currently contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

Six teams, India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

The ongoing edition marks the second installment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

Playing XIs

Australia Champions

Shaun Marsh, Chris Lynn, D Arcy Short, Ben Dunk (wk), Callum Ferguson, Ben Cutting, Daniel Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Steve O’Keefe, Brett Lee (c), Peter Siddle

West Indies Champions

Chris Gayle (c), Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons, Chadwick Walton (wk), William Perkins, Kieron Pollard, Ashley Nurse, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Nikita Miller, Shannon Gabriel

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WCL 2025: Walton, Edwards star as West Indies defeat England

NORTHAMPTON: Chadwick Walton’s explosive 83-run followed by Fidel Edwards’ four-wicket haul sealed a 10-run victory for West Indies Champions over England Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 here at the County Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Chasing a challenging 165-run total, England Champions crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for 154 on the final ball of the game.

England Champions had a poor start in pursuit of the chase, losing two wickets on the first two balls of their innings. Sir Alastair Cook and Moeen Ali were dismissed for golden ducks.

The situation worsened further when Fidel Edwards sent Ian Bell and skipper Eoin Morgan packing for five and nine runs, respectively, as the scorecard read 19-4 in 4.4 overs.

With a top-order collapse, came Ravi Bopara, who, alongside experienced Samit Patel, rescued England Champions from a precarious position.

The duo batted cautiously, bringing the score to 59 runs at the halfway stage of the innings until Bopara’s dismissal. He was stumped after scoring 24 off 22 deliveries.

Meanwhile, Patel continued until the 15th over and reached his half-century. With England Champions on 108 in 15.3 overs, the match was evenly poised, but Shannon Gabriel removed the set batter to dent his team’s hopes.

Following his removal, there were no significant contributions from the lower order as England Champions were bundled out in the last over.

For West Indies Champions, Fidel Edwards starred with the ball, taking four wickets in three overs, while Dwayne Bravo and Shannon Gabriel shared two scalps apiece.

Earlier, Chadwick Walton’s explosive 83 and Kieron Pollard’s quick-fire 30-run cameo took West Indies Champions to a strong total.

Put into bat first, West Indies Champions posted 164-9 in their allocated 20 overs.

England Champions capitalized on the decision early, removing the top-order batters inside the first four overs. Opener Dwayne Smith was removed for a golden duck in the opening over, while Lendl Simmons could only manage to score four runs.

However, following early hiccups, veteran batter Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton forged a 44-run partnership. Chris Gayle was removed for 21 off 19 balls with the aid of a six and two boundaries as England Champions reduced them to 61-3 in nine overs.

Incoming batter William Perkins’ (5) short stay at the crease was also ended in the 10th over, with West Indies reeling at 74-4. However, Kieron Pollard and Chadwick Walton formed a crucial 80-run stand in quick time to lift them out of trouble.

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The duo’s partnership was enough to take West Indies Champions to 154 in 16.4 overs. Pollard struck two sixes and three fours for his 30-run knock, while Walton’s 83 off 50 balls featured five towering sixes and eight fours.

Despite the duo’s formidable stand, the West Indies Champions lost their way in the last few overs, losing four wickets in quick succession as the England Champions restricted them from posting a formidable total.

For England Champions, Stuart Meaker was the standout bowler, taking four wickets in his four overs while giving away only 24 runs.

The WCL 2025 will be contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

Six teams, India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the WCL 2025 semi-finals.

The upcoming edition marks the second installment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

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South Africa edge West Indies in bowl-out to kick off WCL 2025

BIRMINGHAM: South Africa Champions began their World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 campaign with a thrilling bowl-out win over West Indies Champions after rain and a nail-biting finish left the match tied at Edgbaston on Saturday.

In a contest reduced to 11 overs per side, AB de Villiers opted to bowl first after winning the toss. West Indies posted 79/5, led by Lendl Simmons’ 28 off 21 balls and a steady unbeaten 27 from wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton.

Aaron Phangiso was the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of 2/19 in his three overs, while Duanne Olivier, JJ Smuts and Hardus Viljoen chipped in with a wicket each.

South Africa’s DLS-adjusted target was set at 81. Despite contributions from Sarel Erwee (27 off 18) and JP Duminy (25* off 12), the Proteas fell one run short, managing 80/6 as Fidel Edwards successfully defended nine runs in the final over.

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The tied encounter led to an unusual bowl-out instead of a super over.

Proteas once again won the toss and chose to bowl first in the shootout. However, they missed their first three attempts, with Phangiso, Chris Morris and Viljoen failing to hit the stumps.

JJ Smuts finally broke the deadlock on the fourth attempt, followed by Wayne Parnell, who delivered a perfect yorker to make it two.

West Indies, needing at least two hits to stay alive, couldn’t strike once in their five chances, handing South Africa Champions a 2-0 win in the bowl-out and a dramatic start to their WCL 2025 campaign.

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Pakistan thump West Indies to reach World Championship of Legends Final

NORTHAMPTON: Skipper Younis Khan scored a gutsy half-century before Sohail Khan’s four-for led Pakistan Champions to down West Indies Champions and qualify for the World Championship of Legends final.

Chasing a daunting 199-run target, the West Indies Champions’ batting unit unfolded on 178 on the penultimate delivery of the innings and thus succumbed to a 20-run defeat.

The West Indies Champions were never in the run chase as they, after getting off to a scratchy start, lost wickets at regular intervals.

However, Rayad Emrit glimmered a ray of hope for the West Indies Champions when he hit Shoaib Malik for three consecutive sixes in the penultimate over but Sohail Khan returned to bowl the final over and denied the late comeback.

Ashley Nurse remained the top-scorer for the West Indies Champions with his 24-ball 36 in the middle, followed by Emrit (29) while the rest made modest contributions.

Sohail Khan starred with the ball for Pakistan Champions, taking four wickets for 21 while Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik bagged two each.

Put into bat first, Pakistan Champions accumulated 198/8 in the allotted overs against a disciplined West Indies Champions’ bowling attack, led by Fidel Edwards.

Edwards ran through Pakistan Champions’ top-order, reducing the second-placed side to 10/3 in two overs Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Khan and Shoaib Malik perished cheaply.

With Pakistan Champions in tatter, captain Younis Khan joined Kamran Akmal in the middle and together they anchored the innings.

The duo added 79 runs for the fourth wicket before Dwayne Smith cleaned up Akmal in the 12th over to draw curtains on his fighting knock.

Akmal fell agonizingly short of a well-deserved half-century, scoring 46 off 31 deliveries, laced up with eight boundaries.

Younis then knitted a brief one-sided partnership with hard-hitting batter Shahid Afridi (1) and 11 runs to the total to take Pakistan Champions to the 100-run mark.

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Afridi was caught at point off SSulieman Benn, who struck again on the next delivery to send Misbah-ul-Haq packing for a golden duck as Pakistan Champions slipped to 100/6 in 12.4 overs.

Younis was then involved in yet another crucial partnership for Pakistan Champions when he raised 34 runs for the seventh wicket with Aamer Yamin before finally perishing in the 16th over.

He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan Champions with a 45-ball 65, featuring six fours and a six.

Yamin then joined forces with Sohail Tanvir and the pair did well to bolster the total as they registered a quickfire 61-run partnership which lasted with the latter’s dismissal on the penultimate delivery.

Tanvir made an 18-ball 33 while Yamin scored an unbeaten 40 off 18 balls, peppered with two fours and three sixes.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will face either India Champions or leaders Australia Champions in the final of the World Championship of Legends on Saturday in Birmingham.

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