By: Tarish Bhatt
It was a charity match, and the result doesn’t matter as the game was for a good cause – to help the British army personals and their families. Still, MS Dhoni wanted to be a winning side, showing how much he loves the game.
The India limited-over captain showed why he is still one of the most dangerous and explosive batsmen in world cricket. MS Dhoni steered the Help for Heroes XI to a comprehensive four-wicket win over the Rest of World, with an explosive innings.
MS Dhoni made an unbeaten 22-ball 38, hitting four boundaries and a mammoth six in the proceedings. The innings also showed the Captain Cool hasn’t lost his midas touch, and preparing well for the forthcoming series against South Africa.
Batting at number five, MS Dhoni ensured that he took his team over the line, also earning the man of the match award for his side. The Ranchi-born also constructed a couple of crucial partnership for sixth and seventh wicket.
Earlier, electing to bat first, the Rest of World posted a competitive 158 runs on the board, despite failing to construct even a single flowing partnership in the entire innings.
Mahela Jayawardene, however, played a gritty innings, while Mathew Hayden also made a useful contribution, but apart from these two batsmen, no one managed to put resistance in the middle.
Chasing 158, the Help for Heroes XI got a solid opening stand from Virender Sehwag and Andrew Strauss, but they both fell in the space of three runs, bringing the Rest of World back in the game.
The departure of Damien Martyn and Herschelle Gibbs put the Help for Heroes XI under pressure, but MS Dhoni showed his innings-building prowess and finished game with a four.
Cricket For Heroes Result:
Rest of World Innings: 158/6 in 20 overs
Mahela Jayawardene (48), Mathew Hayden (34)
Help for Heroes XI: 159/6 in 19.3 overs
MS Dhoni (38 not out), Virender Sehwag (30)
