World Of Sports

The ICL India XI claimed their second stright win in the ICL 20s World Series with a comprehensive 44 run victory over the ICL World IX at the Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad .

The fourth match of the ICL 20s World Series featured the resurgent ICL India team, fresh from a fantastic victory over their arch Pakistani rivals take on the formidable ICL World at the magnificent ICL facility, Lal Bahadur Stadium, Hyderabad.

In the end the young ICL Indian boys outclassed their illustrious opponents (ICL World) in all departments of the game to register their 2nd consecutive win by 44 runs.

Chris Cairns won the toss and put the Indians into bat first on a wicket that was expected to play true for the entire duration of the game. The Indians opened with their successful combination of the previous game, Vignesh & Khaleel. The openers brought their good form of the previous match into this game getting off to a solid start.

However it was Kasprowicz who had the last laugh, getting the first breakthrough in form of Khaleel's wicket with the penultimate ball of the 3rd over. At the end of the 3rd over the Indians were placed at 28/1. Tuffey soon accounted for the dangerous Vignesh, to pull back the strong Indian start at 38/2. At the half way stage of their innings the Indians were well placed at 92/3 with both Abbas Ali & Jhunjhunwala playing some lovely strokes all across the park.

The partnership was working well for the Indians, worth over 50 runs at the 12th over stage. The lovely partnership worth 76 runs finally came to an end in the 15th over with Kasprowicz accounting for the dangerous Abbas Ali for a well made 44. With 5 overs to go the Indians were all set for the big onslaught, placed handsomely at 129/4. It was the young Stuart Binny who anchored the innings in the final overs taking the Indians to a formidable 163/8.

In reply the ICL- World side got of to a slow start largely due of some tight bowling by the new ball Indian bowlers. At the end of 4 overs the World side was placed at 21 for no loss. Nechim was working some serious pace and got the first breakthrough knocking the stumps to pack back the dangerous Vincent for 8 leaving the world scorecard reading 28/1. With the fall of Elliott's wicket in the 6th over the ICL-world were is trouble at 30/2.

The Indians were putting up a splendid display with the ball restricting the ICL world batsmen to singles & cutting off the boundaries. At the half way mark of their innings the World side were placed at 55/3 ,needing another 109 off 60 balls at nearly 11 runs per over.

Sathish brought on his premiere spinner Murtaza, in the 12th over who got into the act taking two wickets in three balls to leave the World side scorecard reading a dismal 57/5.

A complete batting collapse faded any chance that the World side had in reaching the big target.

In the end it turned out to be India's night & a magnificent effort in the field saw them register a big win by 44 runs.