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Sport - Cricket

India XI beats World XI

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The youthful exuberance of India XI prevailed over the experience of the World XI as the former notched up a convincing, 44-run win to stay on course for a berth in the final of the ICL 20s World Series cricket championship at the floodlit Lal Bahadur Stadium here on Saturday night.

It was the second win in three matches for India XI helping it top the table with four points, while the World XI lost its second in three.

Writing on the wall

It was obvious from the start of the chase that World XI was never in the race. It was pegged down not only by some accurate bowling but also by some brilliant fielding. The special effort by Stuart Binny, running to his right at covers and diving forward just in time to send back the dangerous captain Chris Cairns off Thiru Kumaran’s bowling, was symbolic of the spirit the young India XI displayed all through the game.

And once again, it was the slow bowlers — Ali Murtaza and Syed Mohammed — who rose to the occasion with tidy spells after the early blows were struck by medium-pacers.

Marvan Atapattu (20) emerged top-scorer.

Earlier, India XI posted a challenging 163 for eight in 20 overs thanks mainly to a breezy knock by southpaw Syed Abbas Ali (44, 36, 7 x 4). But, it was once again opener Ganapathi Vignesh who gave the fillip early on with a flamboyant 24 (10b, 2x4, 2x6). A huge hit over long-off off Michael Kasprowicz’s bowling stood out.

Though only Abbas Ali crossed the 30-run mark, almost everyone chipped in with useful contributions. Even the three run-outs of Abhishek Jhujhunwala (27, 29b, 1x4), Rajagopal Sathish (5) and Syed Mohammed (5) did not help the World XI cause as Man-of-the-match Binny chipped in with a useful knock of 21 (16b, 2x4, 1x6) which included a huge six over mid-on off leg-spinner Upul Chandana.

Later, he was declared out by the third umpire after the field umpire negatived a caught-behind appeal by Lou Vincent off Andrew Hall. This was challenged by the fielding side successfully.