Pathan brothers star as India Masters edges thriller; Tendulkar falls cheaply, Yuvraj’s stunning catch steals the show
Pathan brothers star as India Masters edges thriller; Tendulkar falls cheaply, Yuvraj’s stunning catch steals the show
The inaugural International Masters League (IML) kicked off in electrifying fashion as India Masters edged past Sri Lanka Masters by four runs in a high-scoring thriller at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Batting first, India Masters set a daunting total, thanks to a scintillating display of power-hitting. After Sachin Tendulkar’s early dismissal (10 off 8), Stuart Binny (68 off 31) and Gurkeerat Singh Mann (44 off 32) laid a solid foundation with an 87-run stand. But it was Yusuf Pathan who stole the show, hammering an unbeaten 56 off just 22 balls, featuring six monstrous sixes and three fours. His explosive knock ensured India finished on a formidable total of 222.
Sri Lanka Masters’ chase was led by Kumar Sangakkara’s classy 51 off 30 balls, but just as the team seemed to be gaining control, Irfan Pathan turned the tide. The left-arm seamer struck twice in two balls, removing Sangakkara and Chaturanga de Silva to peg the visitor back. Despite valiant efforts from Asela Gunaratne (37 off 25) and Jeevan Mendis (42 off 17), Sri Lanka fell agonisingly short.
The highlight, though, was Yuvraj Singh, who rolled back the years with a stunning catch at long-on in the eighth over. Off Irfan Pathan’s bowling, Lahiru Thirimanne’s powerful shot seemed destined for a six, but Yuvraj leapt high, plucked it mid-air, and controlled his momentum to stay inside the boundary, completing a breathtaking grab.
With nine required off the last over, Abhimanyu Mithun held his nerve, conceding just five runs while picking up two wickets to seal a thrilling win for India Masters.
Published on Feb 23, 2025
