Australian pacer bowled 18 balls in a single over, including 12 wides

It was one of the bizarre moments in cricketing history when the World Championship of Legends 2025 saw Australia bowing out of their final group-stage clash in utter humiliation against Pakistan on July 29. What was supposed to be a challenging fixture fast turned into a one-sided affair with Aussie fans flabbergasted and Pakistani fans celebrating well.

A Night Australia Would Want to Forget

Australia’s batting woes were already on display as they had only managed a modest total of 75 runs in their innings. But worse was to happen, as pacer John Hastings created a moment that would surely be there in the hall of infamy for cricket. 

In what should have been a forgettable opening over, Hastings lost his bearings and bowled as many as 12 wides—yes, 12 wides in one over. He delivered 18 balls in a single over, and they were beyond saving. The Pakistani opening pair of Sharjeel Khan and Shoaib Maqsood would not lose an iota of time in making hay out of it. 

The defense came crashing down as Pakistan wrapped up the chase in just 8 overs without losing a single wicket for a highly dominating victory by 10 wickets.

Hastings’ Nightmare Over

It was Hastings’s first over of the match—and probably one he’d want to erase from his memory. He conceded 19 runs off just 5 legal balls, plus all the extras. Whenever he tried to land the ball in the right spot, it kept drifting away from the batter and the keeper. 

Not only was the overpriced in terms of runs, but it also dented the Australians’ confidence. By the end of it, the game was already slipping away from them, and soon after, the Pakistanis were celebrating the chase.

To see a meltdown by arguably one of the sharpest bowlers was arguably a moment best forgotten. For the in-play bet experience, however, this match has been a roller-coaster ride. 

Pakistan Cruises to the Semis

This overwhelming victory booked Pakistan’s place in the semi-finals, where they are now hoping to tussle with their archrivals, India. Top-notch performances throughout the group stage have seen Pakistan perched on top of the pile, looking in prime form. 

This proposed meeting in the semis between India and Pakistan now has heightened interest.

Sponsor Pulls Out: Politics Meet the Pitch

Just a few hours back, just as India teetered to barely make their way into the semi-finals with just one win, the rain of controversy descended upon the tournament.

EaseMyTrip, one of the event’s prime sponsors, announced in the morning that they were opting out of the semi between India and Pakistan. In a grandiose social media post from one of the company’s co-founders, Nishant Pitti, spelled out that their organizational values do not permit them to associate with a country that supports terrorism. 

In his statement, Pitti commended the Indian team, led by Yuvraj Singh, for making it to the semis. He, however, added: 

“Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. EaseMyTrip will not support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism. Nation first, business later. Always. Jai Hind.”

While the statement found resonance among a wide section of the Indian public, it ignited debate about the political involvement in sport, with some sympathising while others questioned the merit of the sentiments being expressed. 

What This Means for Winexchange Users 

For users on Winexchange, Hastings’ 18 balls in a single over could be game game-changer as one right prediction on Winexchange can win you in Lakhs. 

Such unpredictable moments are what make inplay prediction an exciting and tricky business. Proper prediction is now not just about form or stats: it’s about gauging the sentiments, sudden momentum shifts, and the mental pressure on players. 

However, just as from now onwards, predictions and bet odds are subject to much change due to the increasing off-field tension in the India-Pakistan semi-final match.

Final Thoughts

With the undignified bowling effort of 18 balls in a single over and politically forced sponsorship withdrawal, the World Championship of Legends 2025 becomes one of the most dramatic of recent cricketing histories. 

As always, gain real-time match updates, shrewd inplay prediction, and the chance to cash in big prizes from Winexchange. Whether predicting a sudden collapse or spotting a momentum change in a nerve-racking semi-final, with Winexchange, your intuition can be worth a whole lot.

Don’t just watch the game—predict the play with Winexch! 

Let the games begin, with your predictions being as sharp as your instincts for cricket—only on Winexchange.

FAQs

Q1. What is Winexchange?

• Winexchange is an online gaming platform that gives you real-time updates around sports and allows users to make accurate sports predictions to win exciting cash prizes.

Q2. What happened during the WCL 2025 match between Australia and Pakistan?

• Pakistan won the match by 10 wickets, with Australia as they left with 10 wickets, for John Hastings did a notorious business of bowling 12 wides in one over, leading to a terrible defeat. 

Q3. Why did EaseMyTrip withdraw sponsorship for the India vs. Pakistan match?

• EaseMyTrip gave political reasons, saying: “Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand” and therefore chose to stay away from sponsoring any match involving Pakistan.

Q4. How does in-play prediction help on Winexchange?

• In-play prediction allows users to make live predictions during matches, taking advantage of sudden momentum changes on the field and trends in player performance to win rewards.