India Maharajas vs Asia Lions Highlights – Asia Lions win by 85 runs – Asia Lions have sealed their deal in the LLC 2023 Final with a clincial 85-run thrashing of India Maharajas in teh Eliminator. Upul Tharanga smashed a fifty while quickfire knocks from Thisara Perera, Mohd Hafeez and Asghar Afghan have taken Asia Lions to 191/5. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga brought up an 83-run stand before a stunning catch from Mohd Kaif dismissed Tharanga. But only Gautam Gambhir could put up a good fight while everyone else failed in the big chase Follow Legends League Cricket LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN.
In the league stage, the Maharajas under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir didn’t have the best of times. With just one victory from four games, they finished last in the standings with two points and a net run rate of +0.512. Shahid Afridi’s Lions, defeated the World Giants and India Maharajas to begin their campaign. The Lions suffered two consecutive losses just as it looked like they might reach the final.
The architects of Asia Lions’ victory were opener Upul Tharanga. The Sri Lankan smashed 50 off 31 balls with seven boundaries and a six. His partner Tillakaratne Dilshan scored a run-a-ball 27 runs as they put together an 83 runs partnership to set the base for a huge total.
Kaif-tastic, Kaif-alicious, Kaif-a-mazing! 💥👑
— Legends League Cricket (@llct20) March 18, 2023
The legend @MohammadKaif shows how it’s done the kaifway! #LegendsLeagueCricket #SkyexchnetLLCMasters #LLCT20 #YahanSabBossHain #MohammadKaif pic.twitter.com/GsJm8xAcLN
India Maharajas began their chase with Gambhir striking freely. He hit Sohail Tanvir’s third and last delivery of the first over for boundaries. It was a treat to watch Gambhir pick two more boundaries off Abdur Razzak. He hit the second delivery for a boundary to mid-wicket and on the fourth, he leaned back and cut with elegance to the boundary.
Uthappa joined the big-hitting from the fourth over by Razzak, scoring two consecutive boundaries. Hafeez provided the breakthrough with the second ball of the fourth over by having Gambhir caught by Misbah Ul Haq at extra cover for 32. His 17-ball knock had seven boundaries.
Uthappa on 15 got run out after being sent back by Kaif. At the end of the powerplay, India Maharajas were 60 for 2. Runs began to dip with Hafeez giving away just four runs in the seventh over and Shahid Afridi picking the wicket of Kaif.
Perera took another catch at long-on to remove Yusuf Pathan, who lasted only ten balls to score nine runs before falling to Mohammad Hafeez. In the 13th over, when Irfan Pathan got bowled for 3 off Dilshan, half the India Maharajas batsmen were back in the dug-out for 91 in 12.4 overs.
In the 15th over Tanvir struck with successive deliveries. First, he removed Suresh Raina, clean bowled for 18, and then clean bowled Stuart Binny to take a firm grip on the match.
Razzak also clean-bowled Ashok Dinda for 2 and had Manvinder Bisla stumped by wicketkeeper Tharanga for 8 in the 16th over. Udana clean-bowled Tambe for a duck in the next over to book his team’s place in the final.
Asia Lions Playing XI: Upul Tharanga(w), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Thisara Perera, Asghar Afghan, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi(c), Sohail Tanvir, Paras Khadka, Abdur Razzak
India Maharajas vs Asia Lions Highlights: Asia Lions seal LLC 2023 Final spot with 85-run thrashing of India Maharajas in Eliminator, Watch Legends League Cricket Highlights
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