The opening match of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) Masters began with a cracker of a game between India Maharajas and Asia Lions at West End 🎶Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Fr🔥iday.
The contest turned out to be an absolute thriller where the Asian team, under the leadership of Shahid Afridi, got the better of the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian side.
Opting to bat first, Asia Lions started terribly after losing Tillakaratne Dilshan (5) and Asghar Afghan (1). However, Upul Tharanga and Misbah-ul-Haq steadied the ship by forming a much🧜-needed 108 runs partnership for the third wicket.
While Tharanga was dismissed for 40, the former Pakistan skippꦅer kept his end alive, smashing 73 from 50 deliveri✤es, with the help of 2 fours and 4 humungous sixes and taking his side to a competitive total of 165/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, the contest went down to the wire, where the Indian side fell short of nine runs. Captain Gambhir led from the front, slamming a brilliant half-century. Gambhir scored 54 off 🦩39, including seven boundaries. But the other batters couldn’t hold on as the India Maharajas only reached 156/8 in 20 overs.
Veteran left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir was the pick of the bowler for the Lions, bagging three wickets in the form of Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan and Irfan Pathan. Similarly, Afridi, Abdul Razzaq,🌺 Thisara Perera, Dilshan, and Isuru Udana all picked up one wicket each.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
After a to༺ugh defeat in a nail-biting contest, India Maharajas will be back on the winning ways!
The maharajas scored 156 runs but came short, with 4🌟 sixes, 14 fours and 6 wickets overall.
— Legends League Cricket (@llct20)
Misbah Ul Haq wins Legend of the Match award.
Presenter: You went in to bat at 19/2 with your team in trouble. Talk us through it!
Misbah: Nothing new for me! Haha! 😂❤️— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan)
Atmosphere level 💯
— Georgie Heath🎙️ (@GeorgieHeath27)
The man, the myth, the legend – 🔥
7️⃣3️⃣ runs off 50 deliveries 💪
The ever-graceful batter, ICA’s🌜 Legend showed an excellent per💦formance vs India Maharajas & bagged the POTM award 🏆 👏
— Moghees Sheikh (@MogheesSheikh)
Atmosphere level 💯
— Georgie Heath🎙️ (@GeorgieHeath27)
When lif🐼e gives you a tough defeat, channel your in൲ner Maharaja and rise above it.
Onwards and upwards to the next victory! 💪👑
— India Maharajas (@IndMaharajasLLC)
Misba🎀h-Ul-Haq roars through his half-century with 2 fours and 3 sixes!
— Asia Lions (@AsiaLionsLLC)
Congratulations Asia Lions and Bhai!👏
They defeated Gautam Gambhir's India Maharajas in Legends League Cricket!
Player of the match – Misbah-ul-Haq 73 off 50 balls 👏🏽
— Haseeb Arslan (@HaseebarslanUK)
The way Misbah and Gam♎bhir are batting today, never seemed l🤡ike they ever quit cricket
— Viraj Asher (@VirajAsher)
Misbah Ul Haq wicket reminds me of his wicket in 2011 SF ga💝me at Moha🌺li!
— Nilesh G (@oye_nilesh)
