LEEDS: Australia Champions pulled off a thrilling four-wicket win against India Champions in a high-octane clash of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 here on Saturday.
Chasing a stiff target of 204, Australia got over the line on the penultimate delivery of the match, with Callum Ferguson sealing the deal by launching Irfan Pathan for a six.
They finished at 207-6 in 19.5 overs, handing India their second straight loss in the tournament.
Ferguson, who walked in with the scoreboard reading 65-4 in the eighth over, turned the game on its head with a match-winning knock of 70 not out from just 38 balls. His innings was laced with five fours and four sixes.
Dan Christian also played a key role in the chase, scoring 39 off 25 deliveries, including five boundaries and a six.
For India Champions, Piyush Chawla was the pick of the bowlers with 3-36, while Harbhajan Singh chipped in with two wickets and Vinay Kumar took one.
Earlier, Australia opted to bowl first but were put under pressure right away as Indian openers Robin Uthappa and Shikhar Dhawan put up a brisk 57-run stand in just five overs.
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However, Dan Christian turned the momentum with a double-strike in the sixth over, removing Uthappa for 37 (21) and Ambati Rayudu for a two-ball duck.
Despite the wickets, Dhawan held one end firm, anchoring the innings with a sublime unbeaten 91 off 60 deliveries.
He found support from Yusuf Pathan, who exploded late in the innings with a fiery 52 not out off just 23 balls.
The duo stitched together a 100-run partnership for the fifth wicket, taking India to a competitive total of 203-4 in their 20 overs.
With this result, Australia Champions climbed to second place on the WCL 2025 points table with two wins in three games.
India Champions, on the other hand, are yet to open their account after two matches.
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