Asia Lions and India Maharajas (Photo Source: Instagram)
After enthralling the fans with some marvellous T20 action across seven matches, Legends League Cricket Masters 2023 finally reached its culmination on Monday, March 20, as the World Giants and the Asia Lions were up against each other in the final at West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha.
Giants’ captain Shane Watson won the ‘all-important’ toss in the big game and elected to bat first. However, the decision backfired as Abdur Razzak cleaned up Morne van Wyk in the third over for a seven-ball duck. He further got the prized scalp of captain Watson in the same over dismissing him for a two-ball duck.
It seemed as if the Giants were digging their own grave as Lendl Simmons got run out in the sixth over leaving his side on 19/3 after 5.1 overs. With their team in disarray, Jacques Kallis and Ross Taylor got together at the crease and added 92 runs for the fourth wicket off 68 balls.
The partnership was broken as Thisara Perera destroyed the stumps of Taylor, who departed after scoring 32 off 33 balls. Kallis continued his magnificent knock at the other end and added some crucial runs at the death. He remained unbeaten on 78 off 54 balls smashing five fours and three sixes in his innings as Giants’ finished their innings on 147/4 in their allotted 20 overs
Razzak was the pick of the bowlers for the Lions who finished his spell on 2/14 in four overs while Perera picked up one wicket.
In reply, Lions openers Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan got their team off to an electrifying start. The duo turned the clock back in time as they added 115 runs for the first wicket in just 10 overs. The magnificent partnership came to an end as Brett Lee cleaned up Tharanga for 57 off 28 balls. He also finished as the leading run-scorer of the tournament.
Following his dismissal, Mohammad Hafeez joined Dilshan at the crease who continued to attack Giants. He was also dismissed shortly after for a well-made 58 off 42 balls. Lions lost one more wicket in the form of Abdul Razzak before Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez took them home in the 17th over winning the game by 7 wickets. As a result, Asia Lions won the LLC Master 2023.
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