246/6 (20.0)
CR : 12.30
253/3 (20.0)
CR : 12.65
India Masters won by 7 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Stuart Binny
3/13
11:45 PM Local Time & IST: A 7-run victory for India Masters as they strengthen their position at the top of the points table and the Raipur leg of the International Masters League begins with a match which saw almost 500 runs scored across 40 overs (499, to be precise).
Well, West Indies Masters were well and truly in the game and in fact in a position to clinch victory for a large part chasing the mammoth score of 254 but as it turned out they lost steam and ran out of gas in the end.
Dwayne Smith (79 off 34) and William Perkins (52 off 24) absolutely blazed away at the start as the Indian bowlers struggled to cope up with the dew, the West Indian openers put up 121 runs in 8.4 overs which really set the stage up for them.
It was a horrendous day for the leg-spinner Rahul Sharma who ended up conceding 75 runs in 3 overs and was butchered by Lendl Simmons who tore him apart and collected 34 runs in one over of his. At the 11-over mark. West Indies Masters were 167/1 and were looking like they would canter home.
But then, things changed as Pawan Negi broke the partnership and dismissed Simmons (38 off 13) just like he broke the first one and from there on it was all India. Smith was castled by Binny who went on to register figures of 3/13 in 2 overs with a plethora of slower balls doing the trick for him. West Indies failed to get any sort of momentum in the back half and even though Ashley Nurse hit some good blows it was not to be as they lost by by 7 runs.
Earlier in the day, 60s from the India openers, Saurabh Tiwary (60 off 37) and Ambati Rayudu (63 off 35) combined with sparkling cameos from Gurkeerat Singh Mann (46 off 21) and skipper Yuvraj Singh (49* off 21) powered India Masters to a mammoth score of 253/3 in their quota of 20 overs.
Well, West Indies Masters were well and truly in the game and in fact in a position to clinch victory for a large part chasing the mammoth score of 254 but as it turned out they lost steam and ran out of gas in the end.
Dwayne Smith (79 off 34) and William Perkins (52 off 24) absolutely blazed away at the start as the Indian bowlers struggled to cope up with the dew, the West Indian openers put up 121 runs in 8.4 overs which really set the stage up for them.
It was a horrendous day for the leg-spinner Rahul Sharma who ended up conceding 75 runs in 3 overs and was butchered by Lendl Simmons who tore him apart and collected 34 runs in one over of his. At the 11-over mark. West Indies Masters were 167/1 and were looking like they would canter home.
But then, things changed as Pawan Negi broke the partnership and dismissed Simmons (38 off 13) just like he broke the first one and from there on it was all India. Smith was castled by Binny who went on to register figures of 3/13 in 2 overs with a plethora of slower balls doing the trick for him. West Indies failed to get any sort of momentum in the back half and even though Ashley Nurse hit some good blows it was not to be as they lost by by 7 runs.
Earlier in the day, 60s from the India openers, Saurabh Tiwary (60 off 37) and Ambati Rayudu (63 off 35) combined with sparkling cameos from Gurkeerat Singh Mann (46 off 21) and skipper Yuvraj Singh (49* off 21) powered India Masters to a mammoth score of 253/3 in their quota of 20 overs.
Brian Lara (West Indies Masters Captain): "I think it's a wonderful game of cricket. Bowlers suffered today but that's what the crowd loves to see. Almost 500 combining both the innings.
You have to have a good start in the first 6 overs if you want to chase that sort of a target. The guys played very well against the spinners. Most of the times you will win these games but not today. We went thinking that we can win this game. We tried to go close. Now with South Africa there, the contest is of the 4th spot. I think we were the favourites but hard luck!"
You have to have a good start in the first 6 overs if you want to chase that sort of a target. The guys played very well against the spinners. Most of the times you will win these games but not today. We went thinking that we can win this game. We tried to go close. Now with South Africa there, the contest is of the 4th spot. I think we were the favourites but hard luck!"
Time for the post-match presentations.
Most Sixes of the Match: Dwayne Smith
Power Player of the Match: Ambati Rayudu
Player of the Match: Stuart Binny
Stuart Binny (Player Of The Match for his 3/13 in 2 overs): "It wasn't easy, conditions were difficult with the ball getting wet with the dew but it paid off.
I always try and prepare they way I bowl in the match, I do not try and do anything special.
Dwayne (Smith) was an important one, if he had batted 10 more balls he would have taken the game away from us."
I always try and prepare they way I bowl in the match, I do not try and do anything special.
Dwayne (Smith) was an important one, if he had batted 10 more balls he would have taken the game away from us."
Yuvraj Singh (India Masters Captain): "It was a show actually. I think 250 was not enough. I knew we had to take wickets. Smith batted well and Simmons was 38 off 8 once. Stuart came and changed the game.
I got 49 off 20 and I didn't get an award (chuckles). Then you know how high scoring game this has been. Hopefully we do better in the semi-final."
I got 49 off 20 and I didn't get an award (chuckles). Then you know how high scoring game this has been. Hopefully we do better in the semi-final."
That is all from this run-fest then with India Masters beating West Indies Masters and solidifying their position at the top of the table. Tomorrow is a break as we have the Champions Trophy Final but action will resume in Raipur once more day after with Sri Lanka Masters taking on England Masters. From here, this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Saptak Sanyal and scorer Raju Khariya. Good night!