Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar alongside ex-captain of Australian cricket team Ricky Ponting picked their bats in a charity match in Melbourne on Sunday.
‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar came out of retirement to have a swing at the Australian bushfires as he batted against Australian women cricket team’s Ellyse Perry for an over in a charity match at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday.
The match, named ‘The Bushfire Bash’ is a charity match lasting 10 overs per side between Ponting XI and Gilchrist XI, aiming to double as a fundraiser for Australian bushfire relief operations. Cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist made an appearance in the Bushfire Bash cricket match.
Ellyse Perry put out a video on social media challenging Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday, which the latter accepted and stated he would play against his doctor’s advice for the noble cause and face the Australian all-rounder with the bat for an over.
"Hey Sachin, it’s awesome to have you out here in Australia supporting the Bushfire match. I know you’re coaching one of the teams but a few of us were sitting around last night chatting and we thought it would be absolutely amazing to see you potentially come out of retirement for one over in the innings break out here at Junction Oval.”
"We’d love to have a bowl to you and obviously fetch a few balls from over the boundary that you’ve hit. We thought it would be an awesome way to raise a bit more money for the Bushfire Appeal, which I know you’re already doing so much for."
"If you’re at all up for it, we’d love to have you out here I know there’d be some girls very keen to field some balls that you hit. So let us know, and thanks again for everything”, said Perry.
Ponting XI led by Ricky Ponting managed to trump over Gilchrist XI, led by Adam Gilchrist in the 10 over bout by a single run at the Melbourne Junction Oval Stadium, with Ponting XI smashing 105 runs for 5 losses. West Indies former captain Brian Lara hit the boundaries for 3 fours and two sixes adding 30 to the scoreboard off 11 balls.
"Yesterday I figured out I could see the ball. At least I'm seeing the ball, I'm not too sure about hitting it or not!", joked Tendulkar.
Cricket Australia confirmed on Sunday that the Bushfire Charity Cricket Match featuring legendary players who have redefined the sport together managed to raise above $7.7 million for the relief operations which will aid communities distraught by the Australian fires.
Check the Match Highlights here: Cricket legends turn back the clock in Bushfire Bash charity match
Video: Sachin's Batting
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