Sachin's Blasters v Warne's Warriors 1st T20 Review: Ponting guides warriors to a victory

Sachin’s Blasters v Warne’s Warriors 1st T20 Review: Ponting guides warriors to a victory: New York witnessed a cracker of a match, as Ricky Ponting’s unbeaten 48 guided the warriors to a 6 wickets win. Earlier in the day, a vintage Virender Sehwag was on display, as he smacked the ball from the word go.

Wasim Akram took the new ball, while the Indian duo of Sachin Tendulkar came out to bat for the blasters.  A vintage Virender Sehwag was on display, as he smacked the ball from the word go.

Sachin Tendulkar’s trademark flick was on display, as the crowd went bonkers. Virender Sehwag batted with a strike rate of 250 and brought up his half-century in style. Jacques Kallis took a spectacular catch to dismiss Sachin for 26, as warriors made a comeback.

Virender Sehwag’s entertaining knock came to an end, as Daniel Vettori cracked his stumps with a fine delivery.Skipper Shane Warne led from the front, as he picked up 3 wickets for 20 runs in his 4 overs.

Mahela Jayawardene chipped in with 18 runs, as Shaun Pollock towered a clean hit out of the ground in the last over. Sachin’s blasters scored 140-8 from the allotted quota of 20 overs.

Wasim Akram bowled 4 overs for 16 runs at an economy of 4 and Andrew Symons picked up 3 wickets for 15 runs in his 2 overs. Warne’s warriors started the chase with Matthew Hayden and Jacques Kallis.

Warrior’s reached 20 in the third over, as Shoaib Akhtar got the first breakthrough by sending back Matthew Hayden for 4. Jacques Kallis soon followed his opening partner, as he fell short of his crease. Muralitharan’s throw reached Moin Khan on time, as the keeper did the rest to send the right hander. Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara steadied the ship; both the hitters smacked mighty ones. A vital partnership of 80 runs between the two settled the chase for the warriors.

Shoaib Akhtar came back in the 13^th over, as Kumar Sangakkara had to go back for 41. Sangakkara towered 3 sixes and 2 boundaries, as he faced 29 balls. 37 runs were needed from 38 balls, as Muralitharan trapped Andrew Symonds on the pads.

The Sri Lankan spinner bowled the first maiden wicket over of the game, and the blasters were back in the game after the Ponting- Sangakkara assault. 11 runs were needed from 20 balls, when Jonty Rhodes smacked one to the fence. With 7 runs to win from 18 balls, Ponting picked a single and moved on to the non-strikers end.

A juicy full toss from Sachin was guided over the fence by Jonty Rhodes, as warriors sealed the first game by 6 wickets

Brief Scores:

Sachin’s Blasters: 140/8 in 20 overs (Sehwag 55, Warne 3-20)

Warne’s Warriors: 141/4 in 17.2 overs (Ponting 48*, Akhtar 2-26)

Warne’s Warriors won by 6 wickets.

Shane Warne is Man of the Match