Qatar Cricket Association President Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with victorious Asia Lions captain Shahid Afridi.
Former Sri Lanka openers Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan struck half centuries to set up a stable platform as Asia Lions rode on their 115-run stand to topple World Giants and lift the Legends League Cricket (LLC) Masters title at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha, yesterday.
Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) President Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani handed over the winners’ trophy to Asia Lions captain Shahid Afridi as a 10,000-strong crowd cheered a seven-wicket victory for his side.
“I think Tharanga and Dilshan were waiting for the final (to excel) and the way they batted they made us proud,” a jubilant Afridi said.
“Razzaq also bowled very well for us and changed the game,” the former Pakistan captain said before praising Qatar’s organisation in the tournament.
“The tournament was very well organised and Inshallah I hope to come back next year as well,” said Afridi.
Legends League Cricket Masters 2023 champions Asia Lions players and officials celebrate with the trophy.
Chasing a modest target of 148, Tharanga and Dilshan punished the World Giants bowlers with a combined total of 13 hits to the boundary and three over the rope before the bowlers ended the partnership in the 10th over.
Tharanga brought up his half century in style with a boundary in the 24th ball he faced, before Dilshan also surpassed the 50-run mark in the next over.
Tharanga hit a four off Brett lee in the following delivery before the former Australian speedster found the off-stump to send the 38-year-old batsman back to the pavilion in the very next ball for 57.
The net run rate was well over the required mark by the time Tharanga departed as former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez joined Dilshan in the run chase.
World Giants captain Aaron Finch then brought in former England bowler Samit Patel who conceded 16 runs in his first over. The 38-year-old slow left-arm orthodox bowler struck in his first ball of the spell to finally get rid of Dilshan for 58. Dilshan had hit eight fours by the time of his departure.
Pakistani former all-rounder Abdul Razzak, who joined his former captain, did not last long as he was caught by West Indies veteran Ricardo Powell off bowling of Panesar for 3 runs. Mohamed Hafeez then continued the chase along with his former teammate as the newcomer Hafeez finished off with a boundary off Powell to clinch the prestigious title at the packed stadium with 23 balls to spare.
Earlier, World Giants’ innings was restricted to 147 for 4 despite a swashbuckling unbeaten 78-run knock by former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis. Kallis hit five boundaries and three sixes in the 54 balls he faced while involving in a 92-run stand for the fourth wicket with New Zealander Ross Taylor, who hit 32 off 33 deliveries.
World Giants, opting to bat, had a disastrous start with South African Morne van Wyk being cleaned up by Abdur Razzak for 0 in the third over.
Razzak inflicted more trouble as Watson was trapped LBW two balls later. From being 2 for 9, Giants further slipped to 3 for 19 with opener Lendl Simmons being run out by a throw from Sohail Tanvir for 17. Kallis and Taylor then started to rebuild the innings, but brilliant bowling by the Asia Lions had restricted the World Giants to 49 for 3 at the halfway mark. The duo marked the 50-run partnership in the 13th over when Kallis hit Thisara Perera for a boundary to fine leg.
Kallis reached his half-century in 41 balls lifting Perera for a six to mid-wicket in the 17th over before the Sri Lankan struck with the third ball of the same over to clean bowl Taylor for 32, ending their 92-runs partnership.
Paul Collingwood, who joined Kallis, was retired hurt for 6. Kallis then hit an effortless six to mid-wicket off Tanvir in the 19th over before hitting two consecutive boundaries off the second and third deliveries in the last over, bowled by Isuru Udana.
