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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.
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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