Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan scored 50 twins as India Legends clinched the World Road Safety Series after beating Sri Lanka by 14 runs in the Raipur final on Sunday. The Herculean effort of arguably the most destructive batsmen in cue ball cricket helped the hosts rack up a mammoth 181/4 in their innings after they were invited by Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan to hit first.
In response, Sri Lanka got off to a solid start, but lost its plot in the middle and was only able to handle 167/7 in its 20 overs.
We have our first champions of the @Academy Road Safety World Series, an intense finale sees the #IndiaLegends rise to the top after a fierce competition against the untamed #SriLankaLegends. pic.twitter.com/96Fo51pXcA
– World Road Safety Series (@RSWorldSeries) March 21, 2021
Yusuf along with Yuvraj stitched 85 runs on 47 balls for the fourth wicket, before Yuvraj was sacked by Kaushalya Weeraratne on 60 (41) balls. Yuvraj reached the fold as India staggered at 35/2 after 4.2 overs and began to make an impact on the contest from the get-go. Batting at a strike rate just under 150.00, the left-handed hitter broke four sixes and the same number of limits.
Meanwhile, Yusuf, who recently announced his retirement from the sport, led the carnage from the other end and finished the contest undefeated with 62 of 32 balls. His entries included five massive sixes and four limits.
He comes for @iamyusufpathan.
Watch LIVE only in @Colors_Cineplex, #RishteyCineplex and free in @justvoot. #UnacademyRoadSafetyWorldSeries pic.twitter.com/GWa84tVIZD
– India Legends (@ IndiaLegends1) March 21, 2021
In Sunday’s final, Virender Sehwag along with India Legends skipper Sachin Tendulkar kicked off the process at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium after being invited to bat first. However, the pair were unable to provide the hosts with the start they would have hoped for, as legendary spinner Rangana Herath eliminated Sehwag at 10 (12) and Sanath Jayasuriya kept catching Subramaniam Badrinath at 7 (5).
Tendulkar was the third man out after the batting legend was dismissed by Farvez Mahroof with 30 (23) balls.
In response, Sri Lanka got off to a solid start with Dilshan’s starting pair and Jayasuriya added 62 runs for the opening wicket, before the former was fired by Yusuf. Following the advance, visitors continued to lose windows at regular intervals and were unable to build an association.
However, towards the end, Chinthaka Jayasinghe and Kaushalya Weeraratne put up late resistance and kept Sri Lanka on the hunt. The pair added 64 runs for fifth field before Manpreet Gony provided the hosts with advancement in Weeraratne form.
Jayasinghe also fell early with the required increase in the execution rate, as India closed the proceedings on a winning note.
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