Bushfire Cricket Bash: Ponting XI beat Gilchrist XI by one run as legends raise over USD 7.7 million funds
Bushfire Bash (Image Source: Twitter)

Cricket fans across the globe celebrated a prestigious moment when many legends of the game reunited for a good cause. It was a charity match held in Australia to raise funds for the Bushfire victims. Australia greats Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist came up with their XI, which included legends of the game at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 105, Gilchrist XI got off to a flier as openers Shane Watson, and skipper Gilchrist put on 49 runs in the first three overs. However, in the fourth over, Luke Hodge dismissed Gilchrist (17), and Watson got retired.

Then came one of India’s most exceptional all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, he joined another Aussie veteran Brad Hodge who replaced Watson. Though, they couldn’t leave any impact in the game as pacer Brett Lee soon sent Brad Hodge (0) and Yuvraj (2) back to the pavilion.

Andrew Symonds tried his best with 29 off 13 balls, but it wasn’t enough to get his team over the finish line, and In the end, Ponting XI managed to win the contest by one run.

Earlier, after put in to bat first, Ponting XI got off to a bad start as Justin Langer (6) was sent back to the pavilion with just 15 runs on the board.

Left-hander Matthew Hayden and captain Ponting put on 29 runs for the second wicket, but Yuvraj exhibited his golden arm bowling as he provided the breakthrough for the Gilchrist XI after the Punjab-born dismissed Hayden (16) in the fifth over.

Soon after, Ponting retired at 26 and then came one of the greatest batsmen, Brian Lara. The left-handed genius played a quickfire knock of 11-balls 30 runs to take Ponting XI’s score at 104/5 in the allotted 10 overs.

During the mid-innings break, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar padded up to face Australian women cricketer, Ellyse Perry, after the former accepted the challenge thrown by Perry on social media.

Tendulkar, who was also the coach of Ponting XI, came to the cricket field after five years. The 46-year-old got off the mark with a boundary. Apart from Perry, Annabel Sutherland also got an opportunity to bowl to Tendulkar.

After the conclusion, Cricket Australia confirmed that the Bushfire charity cricket match managed to raise over USD 7.7 million for the communities devastated by the fires.

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