In the IML 2025, India Masters defeated South Africa Masters by eight wickets. Rahul Sharma starred with a hattrick, while Yuvraj Singh added three wickets. South Africa was bowled out for 85 runs, with Ambati Rayudu leading the chase for India by remaining not out with 41 runs.
In an exciting showdown of the International Masters League (IML) 2025, India Masters triumphed over South Africa Masters at the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Vadodara. Led by an impressive performance from Rahul Sharma, who achieved a hattrick, India won decisively by eight wickets, marking their third consecutive victory in the tournament.
After opting to bat first, South Africa Masters began brightly with a strong partnership between Hashim Amla and Henry Davids, reaching a 35-run stand. However, veteran bowler Rahul Sharma made a significant impact shortly thereafter, claiming the wickets of Amla, Jacques Kallis, and Jacques Rudolph with his first three balls of the second over, showcasing the South African batsmen’s struggle against quality spin bowling.
The situation worsened for South Africa as left-arm spinner Pawan Negi contributed by dismissing Farhaan Behardien and sending back Henry Davids, who scored a team-high of 38 runs. With South Africa in dire straits at 63/5, Sachin Tendulkar strategically utilized Yuvraj Singh, who further troubled the batting side, claiming three wickets in rapid succession, including the well-set Dane Vilas.
The South African innings faltered as they were all out for a mere 85 runs in 14 overs, with both Rahul Sharma and Yuvraj Singh claiming three wickets each. In response, Ambati Rayudu played a crucial role for India Masters, remaining unbeaten with 41 runs, steering the team to victory in just 11 overs. Other contributors included Sachin Tendulkar and Irfan Pathan, who scored 6 and 13 runs, respectively, while Pawan Negi ended the innings with 21 not out.
India Masters achieved a resounding victory over South Africa Masters in the IML 2025, driven by Rahul Sharma’s remarkable hattrick and Yuvraj Singh’s crucial wickets. The team demonstrated exceptional bowling depth, resulting in South Africa’s collapse to just 85 runs. Ambati Rayudu’s unbeaten performance guided India to a swift win, showcasing their dominance in the tournament.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
