Bolt shows his talents are not just restricted to sprinting (©GettyImages). Usain Bolt, the fastest man on earth, made his mark on the cricketing world by blasting a 19-ball 45 in an exhibition match in India.
The game, between a Usain Bolt side and a Yuvraj Singh team, took place in Bangalore in front of around 6,000 supporters and was billed as the 'Bolt and Yuvi Battle of the Legends.'
The match, organised by Bolt and Yuvraj's sponsors Puma, was a seven-a-side game
where each side batted for just four overs with Bolt and Yuvraj allowed to bat for the duration of the innings as they were the captains. If any side lost a wicket then their team was deducted four runs.
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Stars in action
Bolt's team included Indian spinner Harbajan Singh, amongst others, whilst Team Yuvraj
included fast-bowler Zaheer Khan in their ranks.
Batting first Yuvraj's team hit a commendable 58 runs from their four overs with Yuvraj
himself hitting 24 from 14 balls and Aditya Tare scoring 30 from just 11 balls. However, team Bolt chased down the score on the last ball with Bolt hitting the winning runs. Bolt's innings of 45 included five sixes, three of which were off the bowling of friend Yuvraj.
The game ended in dramatic fashion. With 10 runs still required from the final two balls Bolt hit a six off the bowling of Tare, but then missed the final ball of the game, which had seemingly given Yuvraj's team victory. However, the event's host Ajay Jadeja called a no-ball which gave Bolt another chance to try and win the match for his side. The World and Olympic champion did not disappoint as he smashed a six to win the game, much to the delight of his team.
The game was played in a light-hearted spirit and thoroughly entertained the watching crowd. This was Bolt's first visit to India but will certainly not be his last given the support he received.
Love for cricket
Bolt has admitted previously that cricket was his first love when he was younger and he wanted to be a fast-bowler like his idol Waqar Younis.
He is not the only sprinter to be a keen cricketer as earlier this year fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake revealed his love for the game and his desire to one day play cricket for Yorkshire in England once his sprinting days are over.
Yuvraj did take revenge for defeat in the cricket match later in the day as he 'beat' Bolt in a sprint race.
The 28-year-old Bolt has just finished his sprinting season with victory in Warsaw, Poland. He ended the season in style by setting a new world indoor best time of 9.98 secs to win the 100m race. The time, set in the main football stadium under a closed roof, bettered the previous mark of 10.05 secs of Frankie Fredricks.
Could Bolt turn to cricket once his sprinting days are over?
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