Cricket All-Stars series finally started at the New York Mets stadium in the United States. Every cricket fan around the world rejoiced the opening of the tournament and the second playing inning of cricket superstars from the 1990s and 2000s. The initiative to bring together the legends of cricket world to promote the game in the states gave their fans another chance to witness their heroes play again on the field.
The first match of the tournament was played between Warne’s Warriors and Sachin’s Blasters and apart from all the highlights one man was the solo star of the match.
Virender Sehwag, just some days after officially retiring from the International Cricket, he provided Sachin’s Blasters an electrifying performance. He was eased in the company of retired players and took full advantage of those reduced boundaries while playing.
Virender Sehwag belted six sixes, mostly over midwicket. He provided a blazing start with belting sixteen runs off four balls from a hapless 53-year old Courtney Walsh’s first over. He hit the first half-century of the series in just 22 deliveries and satiated many of his fans who had longed for one special inning from the Delhi dasher. He was eventually bowled by Daniel Vettori and he was smiling as always.
Ricky Ponting, one of the most fittest of the retired lot turned his innings into a winning knock. Chasing a target of 140 runs for the victory, he made an unbeaten 48, hitting three sixes and three fours. He stayed till the end as Jonty Rhodes played some big hits at the end.
Warne’s Warriors won the match with the scorecard of – 141/4 in 17.2 overs where Sachin’s Blasters tasted their first defeat with – 140/8 in 20 overs.
8 Nov 2015
Avni S. Singh