World Championship of Legends: Australia defeats West Indies

NORTHAMPTON: Australia defeated West Indies by 55 runs in the 14th match of the World Championship of Legends 2024 at County Ground in Northampton on Wednesday.

The victory propelled Australia to the top of the points table, surpassing Pakistan due to their higher net run rate (NRR). Both teams ended the league stage with eight points each from five matches, but Australia boasted an NRR of +2.464 compared to Pakistan’s +1.644.

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After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Australia chased a total of 274 at a loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Ben Duck stood out with a quick century off 35 balls, while Daniel Christian scored 99 off 100 balls. Duck struck twelve 4s and seven 6s, while Christian hit eleven 4s and eight 6s.

In response, West Indies faced an uphill battle as they struggled to maintain the required run rate throughout their innings. Despite the batters best efforts, with Dwayne Smith scoring 64 off 40 balls and Ashley Nurse netting 70 runs off 36 balls, they could only manage 219 runs.

The West Indies lost six wickets by the end of their chase. Captain Daren Sammy’s 33 off 18 balls towards the end was not enough to alter the outcome.

Australia’s bowlers, led by captain Brett Lee controlled the West Indian batting lineup, restricting their scoring opportunities and ensuring victory for their team. Brett Lee took two wickets at a loss of 30 runs.

Australia has qualified into for the semi-finals, while Pakistan, who had already secured their semi-final berth will face West Indies in the first semi-final.

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Despite their loss to South Africa earlier in the day, India secured the third spot and will face Australia in the second semi-final.

South Africa’s victory over India in their last league match was not sufficient to secure a semi-final position.