Thu Mar 13 16:20:00 UTC 2025: ## India Masters Stun Australia Masters in Thrilling Semi-Final

**Raipur, India:** Sachin Tendulkar’s India Masters secured a hard-fought victory over Shane Watson’s Australia Masters in a thrilling semi-final clash of the International Masters League (IML) 2025. India’s bowlers dominated the powerplay, restricting Australia to 51/3, with crucial wickets of Shane Watson (5 runs) and Ben Dunk, the tournament’s top performers, falling to Vinay Kumar and Shahbaz Nadeem respectively.

Australia, chasing a challenging 221, never truly recovered from the early setbacks. While Nathan Reardon offered some late resistance, the Australian innings ultimately fell short.

Earlier, India posted a competitive 220/7, thanks to explosive contributions from Yuvraj Singh (59 runs off 30 balls) and the Pathan brothers. Sachin Tendulkar, although dismissed for 42, provided a solid platform, ensuring a healthy run rate throughout the powerplay. Yusuf Pathan added a quickfire 23 before falling, and Irfan Pathan finished unbeaten on 19, contributing to a strong finish.

The match was a rematch of a previous encounter where Australia triumphed with a massive 236-run partnership between Watson and Dunk. This time, India’s bowling attack proved more effective, neutralizing the Australian batting threat. Stuart Binny also played a key role for India, taking 3 crucial wickets against the West Indies in their previous match and delivering a vital wicket against Australia in the semi-final.

The victory sets up a final clash for India Masters, highlighting their dominance in the tournament despite their earlier loss to Australia. The match was filled with exciting moments, including several impressive catches and powerful sixes, leaving spectators on the edge of their seats until the final ball. The IML 2025 continues to deliver thrilling matches and showcase the enduring talent of these cricketing legends.

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