Both sides featured the best players of their time, leading to a lot of interest in the three T20s from the cricketing fraternity. PHOTO: AFP
Man of the match Jacques Kallis impressed with both bat and ball as Warne’s Warriors chased down a difficult 220-run target in the third and final T20 of the Cricket All-Stars Series at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Shane Warne’s side won all three exhibition matches against Sachin’s Blasters, with both sides boasting modern legends in a bid to increase the popularity of cricket in the US.
Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar, one of the best players to have ever graced the game, rolled back the years with a 27-ball 56; much to the delight of the fans gathered in the baseball arena, most of them wearing the blue of India.
Tendulkar’s former teammate Saurav Ganguly also scored a half-century as the Blasters managed to make 219-5 in their 20 overs.
Former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori claimed 3-33 in his four overs while Kallis was the only Warriors bowler to go at less than six an over; giving away 17 runs in his three overs.
In reply, the Warriors seemed out of the competition when they lost three wickets inside the first six overs, including the dismissal of former England captain Michael Vaughan after he was bowled by Curtly Ambrose off the first ball of their innings. However, Kumar Sangakkara swung the momentum in his side’s favour with a counter-attacking 42 off just 21 balls.
Jonty Rhodes was dismissed soon after but former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting and Kallis then showed why they were regarded as two of the most dangerous batsmen of their time.
The duo combined to make 88 runs off just 37 balls before Kallis was dismissed on the third ball of the final over after making 47 off 23 balls.
Skipper Warne then came out onto the middle and finished the Hollywood ending with a six off his first ball when his side needed two to win off two balls, with Ponting unbeaten on the other end at 43.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2015.
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