Sehwag blitz help India thrash Bangladesh

The Daily Star  March 05, 2021
Star Sports Report

A blistering knock from Virender Sehwag helped India Legends register a thumping 10-wicket victory over the newly-introduced Bangladesh Legends as the Road Safety World Series resumed at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur today.

The Road Safety World Series, a T20 league played by former cricketers in an attempt to raise awareness about road safety, was halted after four matches in March last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The first edition of the tournament restarted today with the competition’s fifth match that saw former Bangladesh cricketers like Mohammad Rafique, Khaled Mahmud, Javed Omar take on India cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh.

It was however not a very auspicious debut for Bangladesh Legends, who, along with England Legends, were included in the tournament after Australia Legends pulled out due to travel restrictions in their country.

Electing to bat, Bangladesh, however, got off to a very good start. Opener Mohammed Nazimuddin played some exquisite shots all around the park to help Bangladesh race to fifty inside the first six overs. But despite a positive start, Bangladesh’s batting line-up crumbled following the introduction of spinners.

Spinners Pragyan Ojha and Yuvraj Singh picked two wickets each, helping India bundle out Bangladesh for 109 in 19.4 overs.

India Legends chased the target down in just 10.1 overs with Sehwag smashing an unbeaten 35-ball 80. Sehwag, known as one of the most destructive openers during his playing days, reminded everyone of his heydays during his blistering knock that featured 10 fours and five maximums. He picked up his fifty in just 20 deliveries — the fastest in the tournament.