World XI routed in clinical display

India XI 163 for 8 (Ali 44) beat World XI 119 for 8 (Murtaza 2-19, Binny 2-19) by 44 runs
Scorecard

Buoyed by their triumph over Pakistan XI on Friday, the ICL India XI made it two wins in two days with a comprehensive 44-run rout of the ICL World XI in Hyderabad.

G Vignesh blazed to 24 off 10 deliveries after World XI - perhaps taking cue from the 100% record till then for sides chasing - put them in. But after three wickets fell in the first six overs, it was Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Abbas Ali who consolidated in the middle and put the Indians on track for a big total.

Jhunjhunwala scored a run-a-ball 27, while Ali did the bulk of the scoring with a 36-ball 44, which included seven boundaries. After 15 overs, they were at 129 for 4, and World XI did well to contain them to only 163. Stuart Binny chipped in with a brisk 21 at the end. For World XI, Andrew Hall and Upul Chandana helped rein in the scoring, conceding only 15 and 20 off their allotted four overs.

World XI got off to a sluggish start, and three quick wickets left them in trouble at 34 for 3 after 7.1 overs. From then on, they couldn't cope with an asking-rate around ten an over and upwards. Left-arm slow bowler Ali Murtaza and Binny took two wickets apiece as wickets fell continually.

At 88 for 7 in 15.2 overs, there seemed a possibility that World XI would get bowled out, but their lower order hung around to ensure they played out all 20 overs. World XI now need to win their final game against Pakistan XI on Monday to have any chance of going through to the final.