Bushfire Bash Charity: Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara Steal The Show As Ponting XI Beat Gilchrist XI In Legends Game

Cricket fans got a chance to see many legends of the game in action as stars turned up to take part in the Bushfire relief fundraiser match at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday. Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Wasim Akram, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge and Yuvraj Singh were among the cricket legends who took part in the match that saw Ponting XI defeat Gilchrist XI by one run.

Put in to bat first, Ponting XI got off to a bad start as Justin Langer (6) was sent back to the pavilion with just 15 runs on the board. Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting put on 29 runs for the second wicket, but Yuvraj Singh provided the breakthrough for the Gilchrist XI as he dismissed Hayden (16) in the fifth over. Ponting retired out on an individual score of 26. Brian Lara then came out to bat to join Phoebe Litchfield in the middle. Lara played a quickfire knock of 30 runs to take Ponting XI's score to 104/5 in the allotted ten overs.

Chasing 105, Gilchrist XI got off to a flier as openers Shane Watson and Adam Gilchrist put on 49 runs in the first three overs. Shane Watson retired after scoring 30 off 9 balls. Luke Hodge then dismissed Gilchrist (17). Brett Lee soon after removed Brad Hodge (0) and Yuvraj (2). Andrew Symmonds then went after the bowling - which included Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden - before retiring too. Wasim Akram's tight over helped his side as Ponting XI managed to scrap a win by one run.

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Fans also got a chance to see the 'God of Cricket' in action. Sachin Tendulkar batted for one over between the two innings in answer to a challenge thrown by Australia women's team all-rounder Ellyse Perry. She and Annabel Sutherland bowled to Tendulkar. Master Blaster managed to score a boundary on the first ball he faced.

Sachin Tendulkar also acted as coach of the Ponting XI while Australia Test captain Tim Paine played the same role for Gilchrist XI. The proceeds of the match will help victims of the blazes which began in September and have left at least 33 people dead and thousands of homes destroyed. The proceeds would go to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.