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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.
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
