India Maharajas batsman Robin Uthappa hits a boundary.
Doha: Openers Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa put off a spectacular unbeaten 159-run stand as India Mahraja's sealed an emphatic win over Asia Lions in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) Masters at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha, yesterday.
The 10-wicket victory was India Mahrajas' first in the three-team legends tournament.
Chasing a modest target of 158'set by the Asia Giants, skipper Ghambir and his former India teammate Uthappa secured the win in dominant passion with 45 balls remaining.
The pair set ablaze at the Stadium demolishing the Asia Lions’ attack with Uthappa cracking an unbeaten 88 off 39 balls with 11 boundaries and five sixes while Gambhir scored an unconquered 61 off 36 balls with 12 boundaries.
Electing to field first, India Maharajas had restricted Asia Lions to 157 for 5 in 20 overs. For Asia Lions, Upul Tharanga cracked 69 off 48 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes while Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 32 off 27 balls with four boundaries and a six. Together they put on 73 runs opening partnership in 8.4 overs, which however went in vain. Tharanga escaped being caught behind to an outside edge to the third delivery when wicketkeeper Uthappa dropped him at 21 before the former Sri Lanka openers marked their 50-run partnership by the end of the powerplay. Stuart Binny struck in his second over when he forced Thillakaratne to play a cut into the hands of Irfan Pathan at short third man. Next in was Mohammad Hafeez who was LBW off bowling of an accurate Harbhajan Singh in the fifth delivery of the 10th over.
At the halfway mark, Asia Lions were 76 for 2 with Misbah Ul Haq, the hero of their first two matches joining Tharanga. The 51-year-old leg spinner Pravin Tambe took the valuable wicket of Misbah, brilliantly stumped by wicketkeeper Uthappa for a duck as the run flow began to dip. Tharanga reached his half-century in 41 balls just before Asghar Afghan got out leg before to Raina for 15.
Tharanga hit a straight six off Tambe in the 17th over and also swept him for a boundary off successive balls. He then hit Raina for another six to mid-wicket, but while attempting another similar shot he was caught by Manvinder Bisla at wide long-on for 69. Abdul Razzaq remained unbeaten on 27 off 17 balls with two boundaries and two sixes as Asia Lions ended with a total of 157/5.
In reply, India Maharajas were brutal and chased the target down in a hurry.
Uthappa hit three consecutive sixes over mid wicket in the ninth over to race to his half-century in just 27 balls. At the halfway mark, India Maharajas needed just 33 runs in the last 60 balls. Gambhir reached his half-century in 32 balls and steered his team to victory with 45 balls to spare.
Brief scores:
Scores: Asia Lions 157 for 5 in 20 overs (U Tharanga 69, T M Dilshan 32, Abdul Razzaq 27 not out, Suresh Raina 2-16) lost to India Maharajas 159-0 in 12.3 overs (Robin Uthappa 88n.o, Gautam Gambhir 61n.o).
