World Championship of Legends: Australia beats South Africa

BIRMINGHAM: Australia defeated South Africa in the World Championship of Legends 2024 with a 104-run win at Birmingham’s Edgbaston stadium on Friday.

Batting first, Australia scored 230 runs in 20 overs. Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh each contributed 49 runs, a single run shy of a half-century. Ben Dunk scored 47 runs off 21 balls, including five boundaries and three sixes.

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Meanwhile, Ben Cutting scored 38 runs, and Tim Paine 34 runs.

In response, South Africa struggled, managing only 126 runs before being bowled out. Ryan McLaren top-scored with 35 runs, followed by Neil McKenzie with 33 runs and JP Duminy with a modest 12 runs.

South Africa’s ace Jacques Kallis, Richard Levi, and Ashwell Prince failed to make significant impact.

Meanwhile, Australia’s bowlers were clinical in defending their total. Xavier Doherty and Nathan Coulter-Nile each took three wickets, while Brett Lee claimed two wickets and Daniel Christian one.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sanctions the World Championship of Legends, a T20 cricket tournament featuring retired international cricketers from Australia, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and the West Indies.

Notable players in the 2024 iteration include Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Brett Lee, Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, and Jacques Kallis.

Six teams compete for titles such as champions, runners-up, semi-finalists, and participants in the league stage.

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From July 3 to July 10, teams such as England, India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, and West Indies will play two matches each day in the group stage of the World Championship of Legends 2024.

The semi-finals on July 12 will determine the top teams, leading up to the World Championship of Legends 2024 final on July 13.