Road Safety World Series 2020/21, Match 9: India Legends vs England Legends - England Legends Just Edge Out Despite Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony's Late Heroic Batting

England Legends just edged out India Legends during the ninth game of the Road Safety World Series 2020/21 which was played on Tuesday night. In this thrilling game, England Legends claimed a 6-run victory.

After India Legends captain Sachin Tendulkar chose to field first, England Legends scored 188/7 (20 overs). Though India Legends had a tough time in the first 15 overs, Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony’s firing batting almost changed the fate of the game in the last five overs as they finished that game after scoring 182/7 (20 overs).

Road Safety World Series 2020/21, Match 9: India Legends vs England Legends

2nd innings (India Legends): For the unbroken 8th wicket, Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony added 63 runs in just 26 balls

India Legends failed to make a good start in their chasing as four of their first five batsmen failed to reach the double-digit scores. Openers Virender Sehwag (6) and Sachin Tendulkar (9) as well as the next batsmen Mohammad Kaif (1) and Subramaniam Badrinath (8) were dismissed very cheaply while Yuvraj Singh scored 22 runs off 21 balls (3 fours) before his wicket broke the many Indian hearts. Yusuf Pathan was also dismissed after scoring 17 runs.

England Legends spinner Monty Panesar provided that dominating start as he took the wickets of Tendulkar and Kaif in his second over before he took the wicket of Yuvraj in his next fresh spell.

At one stage, India Legends were struggling on 119/7 in 15.4 overs when wicket-keeper batsman Naman Ojha was also out for just 12 runs. While many fans gave up their hope on the Indian team in this game, Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony’s aggressive batting changed the entire situation of the game in a very quick moment.

Both Irfan and Manpreet were smashing boundaries and made the contest very close. Irfan also completed his fifty. India Legends needed 19 runs in the last over to win that match but they ended 6 runs away from the first innings total. Irfan remained not out on 61 off 34 balls (4 fours and 5 sixes) while Manpreet scored 35 not out off just 16 balls (only four and 4 sixes).

Monty Panesar had bowling figures of 4-1-15-3. Also, James Tredwell took two wickets and finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-44-2.

1st innings (England Legends): Pathan brothers shined with the ball after Kevin Pietersen’s firing batting

Openers Phil Mustard and captain Kevin Pietersen started the game with the 45 runs opening partnership in 3.5 overs as Munaf Patel broke that partnership after dismissing Mustard for 14 runs.

But Pietersen maintained his aggressive batting and put the firing 82 runs partnership (8.1 overs) with Darren Maddy for the second wicket. During that partnership, Pietersen completed his fifty in just 18 balls. Irfan Pathan dismissed both these batsmen as Maddy lost his wicket on 29 runs off 27 balls (3 fours) and Pietersen played the smashing knock of 75 runs off just 37 balls (6 fours and 5 sixes).

When Pietersen was dismissed, England Legends scored 139/3 in 14 overs. But their run-rate was a little bit slowed down while Yusuf Pathan picked up three wickets. Before the end of that innings, Chris Tremlett scored 12 runs off just 4 balls with the help of 3 fours. In that innings, India Legends conceded a total of 17 extras, including 9 wides and 2 no balls.

While Yusuf Pathan managed the bowling figures of 3-0-28-3, his brother Irfan Pathan had bowling figures of 4-0-28-2. Munaf Patel also got two wickets as he finished with the bowling figures of 3-0-30-2.

Brief Scores: England Legends – 188/7 in 20 overs (Kevin Pietersen 75, Darren Maddy 29; Yusuf Pathan 3/28)

India Legends – 182/7 in 20 overs (Irfan Pathan 61*, Manpreet Gony 35*; Monty Panesar 3/15)

Result – England Legends won by 6 runs