Walton blazes 60 as West Indies Champions crush India to reach semis
Key Points(5)
- Chadwick Walton spearheaded a ruthless run chase as West Indies Champions defeated India Champions by six wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium to secure a place in the semifinals of the World Championship of Legends.
- Walton struck 60 from 43 deliveries to guide the Caribbean side to 111 for four in just 14.5 overs after their bowlers had restricted India to 110 for eight from 20 overs.
- The victory lifted West Indies into third place in the five-team tournament standings and set up a semifinal showdown against Australia Champions which was slated for Friday.
- Emrit leads disciplined bowling display West Indies laid the foundation for their victory with a collective effort that kept India's batting lineup under pressure throughout the innings.
- Rayad Emrit led the attack with two wickets for 24 runs, while Fidel Edwards, Raymon Reifer, Sheldon Cottrell, Carlos Brathwaite and Nikita Miller claimed one wicket apiece.
Chadwick Walton spearheaded a ruthless run chase as West Indies Champions defeated India Champions by six wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium to secure a place in the semifinals of the World Championship of Legends.
Walton struck 60 from 43 deliveries to guide the Caribbean side to 111 for four in just 14.5 overs after their bowlers had restricted India to 110 for eight from 20 overs.
The victory lifted West Indies into third place in the five-team tournament standings and set up a semifinal showdown against Australia Champions which was slated for Friday.
Emrit leads disciplined bowling display
West Indies laid the foundation for their victory with a collective effort that kept India's batting lineup under pressure throughout the innings.
Rayad Emrit led the attack with two wickets for 24 runs, while Fidel Edwards, Raymon Reifer, Sheldon Cottrell, Carlos Brathwaite and Nikita Miller claimed one wicket apiece.
India struggled to build substantial partnerships and were unable to generate the scoring momentum needed to establish a challenging total.
Rishi Dhawan, batting at No. 7, emerged as their leading scorer with 34 from 32 balls, while No. 9 Harbhajan Singh provided late resistance with an unbeaten 28 from 24 deliveries.
Their contributions helped India reach 110 for eight, but the total left little margin for error against a West Indies side with considerable firepower in its batting lineup.
Walton powers Windies to comfortable chase
West Indies suffered an early setback in the chase but recovered quickly, with Walton taking charge to put the target within reach.
The right-hander struck seven fours and three sixes in an authoritative innings that combined controlled stroke play with timely aggression.
He also found a dependable partner in Lendl Simmons, who contributed 22 as the pair added 65 runs for the second wicket to put West Indies firmly in control.
Their partnership effectively broke India's resistance, allowing the Caribbean side to maintain a healthy scoring rate without taking unnecessary risks.
Walton's innings proved decisive, and West Indies reached 111 for four with more than five overs remaining to complete a convincing six-wicket victory.
Australia await in semifinals
The result secured West Indies Champions third place in the five-team competition and confirmed their progression to the knockout stage.
They were scheduled to face Australia Champions in Friday's semifinal, with a place in the final at stake.
The other semifinal featured South Africa Champions against England Champions.
West Indies will enter the next stage encouraged by the balance of their performance in Sharjah, where disciplined bowling restricted India to a modest total before Walton's commanding innings ensured a straightforward passage into the last four.
