Australia beat India to qualify for semi-finals of World Championship of Legends

Australia Champions secured their spot in the semifinals of the World Championship of Legends 2024 with a commanding 23-run victory over Harbhajan Singh-led India Champions at County Ground, Bristol.

Yusuf Pathan's valiant effort of 78 runs off 48 balls was in vain as he lacked support from the other end.

Dan Christian was the star of the show, hammering seven sixes in his explosive 33-ball 69, including four sixes off RP Singh in one over. Earlier, Harbhajan Singh won the toss and chose to bowl. Shaun Marsh gave Australia a strong start with two consecutive fours off RP Singh, though Anureet Singh soon dismissed Aaron Finch. Marsh continued his aggressive play, hitting the first six of the innings, and Australia were 56/1 after six overs.

Ben Dunk added some quick runs before falling to Dhawal Kulkarni, and Marsh, aiming for a fifty, was bowled by Harbhajan for a 27-ball 41. Christian and Callum Ferguson then steadied the innings. RP Singh returned to the attack and dismissed Ferguson for 26 off 22 balls. In the final overs, Christian went on a rampage, hitting Kulkarni for a six and two fours, and then targeting RP Singh for four sixes in the penultimate over, reaching his fifty in 27 balls. Christian's 69 and Ben Cutting's unbeaten 24 off 13 balls led Australia to 199/5.

In response, India Champions struggled despite a promising start. Irfan Pathan opened with Robin Uthappa, hitting a couple of boundaries off Brett Lee before getting dismissed by Peter Siddle. Uthappa and Suresh Raina added a few boundaries but both fell to Nathan Coulter-Nile in the fifth over, leaving India at 46/3 after the powerplay.

Yusuf Pathan and Yuvraj Singh tried to stabilize the innings, but the scoring rate remained low. Yuvraj was out for 19 off 18 balls to Christian. Pawan Negi briefly sparkled with a six but was soon dismissed by Ben Laughlin. Yusuf reached his fifty with a six in the 16th over, but the required run rate had already slipped away. In the final over, Ambati Rayudu hit three consecutive fours off Siddle, but it was too little too late. Yusuf was dismissed off the penultimate ball, ending with 78 runs featuring 11 fours and a six. India Champions finished at 176/6, losing by 23 runs.

With Pakistan and Australia already in the semifinals, India must defeat South Africa on July 10 to secure their place in the last four.