
New Delhi, March 17 (H.S.): In the final of the inaugural edition of the International Masters League played on Sunday night in Raipur, India defeated West Indies by six wickets to claim the title.
For India, Ambati Rayudu played a brilliant innings of 74 runs off 50 balls, playing a crucial role in helping the team reach the target of 149 runs. He received support first from Sachin Tendulkar and then from Gurkeerat Singh Mann and Yuvraj Singh.
Rayudu hit excellent shots all over the ground, while Tendulkar played a magnificent uppercut for a six while rotating the strike. However, his innings did not last long as Tino Best dismissed him LBW.
After that, Rayudu and Gurkeerat carried the innings forward. Although India lost three wickets quickly, Yuvraj Singh and Stuart Binny secured victory for the team by achieving the target in the 18th over.
Earlier, for West Indies, Dwayne Smith played a quick innings of 45 runs off 35 balls, but he did not receive much support from captain Brian Lara and William Perkins.
Indian spinner Shahbaz Nadeem bowled excellently, making it difficult for the West Indies batsmen to score runs. Lendl Simmons played a gritty innings of 57 runs off 41 balls, bringing the team close to 150, but that score was not enough to stop India.
—————
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar