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In the ninth match of the ongoing Road Safety World Series T20 2020-21, England Legends defeated India Legends 🍌by six runs at Shaheed Veer Na🌜rayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Tuesday.
Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony almost pulled off a phenomenal victory after the pair had stitched an unbeaten 63-run partnership from just 32 deliveries for the eighth wicket. Unfortunately, their efforts went🗹 in vain as England Legends triumphed by a mere six runs margin.
It all started when England Legends were asked to bat first, and they set a massive 189-run target for the Sachin Tendulkar-led team. For England, veteran power-hitter Kevin Pietersen showed his vintage avatar after he smashed an 18-ball half-century. Eventually, he scored 75 off 37 balls laced up with ဣsix fours and fivꦦe sixes at an incredible strike-rate of 202.70.
In reply, India Legends got off to a dreadful start after Matthew Hoggard removed Virender Sehwag (6) in the second over, followed by Monty Panesar’s remarkable bowling, who dismissed Sachin Tendulkar (9), Mohammad Kaif (1), and Yuvraj Singh (22).
Ryan Sidebottom and James Tredwell also joined the party after they sent back Subramaniam Badrinath (8) and Yusuf Pathan (17) respectively into the pavilion to reduce India Legends to 99/6. 18 runs later, Tredwell packed Naman Ojha’s innings to put India Legends in deep trouble.
Then Pathan and Gony batter together and started counter-attack on England bowlers. At one moment, it seemed like the duo would pull off an improbable victory as the equation came down to 19 runs off the final six deliveries. But, Pathan and Gony could score only 12 from Sidebottom’s last over, thereby losing the contest by just 6 runs. Pathan finished the match with an unbeaten 61 off 34 balls while Gony stayed not out on 35 from 16 deliveries.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
So near yet so far! Outstanding batting by 𒉰 and Gony.
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R)
What a game it was. Couldn’t finish the game but wilღl𒀰 get them next time.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
At this rate, Kevin Pieter🅷sen can make his🤪 England comeback before Alex Hales.
— stuart broad apologist (@cricketpun_duh)
Saw Kevin Pietersen’s fantastic innings yesterday against the Indian legends. He still looks to be in shape as a batsman. And I honestly feel he would’ve got more runs than the current English top order had he played the recent test ser꧒ies. legend
— Dodda Ganes💮h | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (🐭@doddaganesha)
//twitter.com/E❀xlordcommander/status/1369331928902🥃623234
What an Unbelievable effort by Irfan Pathan and Manpreet gony. Irfan Pathan Scored 61*(34) and Manpreet gony๊ scored 35*(16). But India Legends short by 6 runs. But full numbers of Irfan👍 Pathan and Manpreet gony, The way both batted. Outstanding.
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh)
8th match day @shaheedveernarayan . What a ma🥃tch, match to be remembered, very closeto win, just missed. Great partnership with .
— Manpreet Gony (@imMsgony)
Manpreet gony and irfan pathan to �🌟�England bowlers:
— Charles Babbage🇮🇳 (@DMahto19)
Fabulous entertainment in thꦫe tonight, courtesy and turning the clock back! Age is just a number. 🙌🏼👏🏼
— Ajith Ramamurthy (@Ajith_tweets)
Last night , and took us back in time . Kp was just brilliant and irf🐼u and gons showed some real fight and unbelievable hitting prowess . Quality cricket .
— Rohan Gavaskar (@rohangava9)
What a fightback from Irfan Pathan and Gony – India Legends was down and out then both added 63* runs from 26 balls but lost the match by 6 runs to England Legends – Irfan Pathan 61*(34) and Gony 35*(16).
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Well played sir!! 👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Superb🌱 all-round performance ❤️🅠❤️
— Ajay R Gnanamuthu (@AjayGnanamuthu)
Well played sir!! 👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Superb alꦑl-round performance ❤️❤️
— Ajay R Gnanamuthu (@AjayGnanamuthu)
Fifty by Irfan Pathan in 30 balls, what a knock by him. After an early collapse, It's been a really handy knock.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra)
With the man of the day! What a knock by
— Chinmay Tiwari (@Chinmay_TI)
Irfan pathan and gony be like like jon snow👇— Ak (@Prasant57404081)