As the much-awaited Bushfire Bash took place on Sunday after getting relocated from Syndey to Junction Oval in Melbourne, the entire cricket fraternity joined in on the fun for a greater cause. Players, coaches, and firefighters alike everyone had a day out in the sun as Ponting XI defeated Gilchrist XI by just one run in the end.
In the T10 format, Ricky Ponting’s team, coached by Sachin Tendulkar put 104/5 on the scoreboard after Adam Gilchrist won the toss and opted to field first. Brian Lara (30) and Ricky Ponting (26) led from the front along with Matthew Hayden (16), as the opposition’s Courtney Walsh, Yuvraj Singh and Andrew Symonds all scalped a wicket each.
Chasing a challenging 105, Adam Gilchrist’s team, coach by Tim Paine, put up a fight with the help of Shane Watson (30), Andre Symonds (29), and the captain (17) himself as Brett Lee bagged two wickets of Brad Hodge and Yuvraj Singh. They finished their innings on 103/6 with rugby legend Cameron Smith and former Australian rules footballer Nick Riewoldt on the crease.
