Ponting XI vs Gilchrist XI Bushfire Bash generates over AUD 7.7 Million

The Bushfire cricket bash in Australia took place at the Junction Oval in Melbourne and the legends have raised in excess of AUD 7.7 million. The same was confirmed by Cricket Australia (CA) in a game that was staged to collect funds for the ones affected in the Bushfire tragedy at New South Wales. The game was played between teams, captained by Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting.

It was one of the matches at the same venue along with the T20I tri-series encounter between Australia Women and England Women. The contest between the legends turned out to be a riveting one. Batting first, the Ponting XI amassed 104 runs in their 10 overs for the loss of five wickets. Brian Lara, the former West Indies left-handed batsman, top scored with 30 runs off 11 balls.

Bushfire match entertains

His knock was laced with three boundaries and a couple of colossal sixes. Ponting himself turned up with 26 vital runs. In the run-chase, Gilchrist and Shane Watson started off on a positive note. The duo put on 49 runs for the opening wicket. Watson notched 30 runs even as Gilchrist made 11.

However, fast bowler Brett Lee and Luke Hodge wreaked havoc, picking up three wickets in pretty quick succession. Yuvraj Singh, the only Indian in the game, managed a couple of runs while Brad Hodge perished without opening his account. Andrew Symonds tried his level best with 29 runs off 13 balls, but the knock wasn’t quite enough to see the Gilchrist XI over the finishing line.

Meanwhile, amidst some riveting action, Sachin Tendulkar also took the field during the mid-innings break. On Saturday, Ellyse Perry, the women’s all-rounder challenged the Master Blaster to come out of retirement and face a solitary over. And Sachin obliged despite his shoulder injury. The right-handed batter started by glancing a short delivery down the leg side for a boundary.

Perry bowled four deliveries at the former Indian batter after which she handed the ball to Anabelle Sutherland. The latter made her debut in the tri-series and started with a juicy half-volley outside the off-stump. In the last ball, Sachin pulled off his trademark straight drive.