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 Friday.
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 skipper kept his end alive, smashing 73 from 50 deliveries, 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 tough 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.#LegendsLeagueCricket #LLCMasters #LLCT20 #YahanSabBossHain pic.twitter.com/auUrAu2vMU
— Legends League Cricket (@llct20) March 10, 2023
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! 😂❤️#LegendsLeagueCricket pic.twitter.com/f01LwlcVEq— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) March 10, 2023
Atmosphere level 💯 #LLCT20 #LegendsLeagueCricket @llct20 pic.twitter.com/wnnvbRUftu
— Georgie Heath🎙️ (@GeorgieHeath27) March 10, 2023
The man, the myth, the legend – @captainmisbahpk 🔥
7️⃣3️⃣ runs off 50 deliveries 💪
The ever-graceful batter, ICA’s Legend showed an excellent performance vs India Maharajas & bagged the POTM award 🏆 👏#TeamICA #MisbahulHaq #LLC pic.twitter.com/avKohrudkV
— Moghees Sheikh (@MogheesSheikh) March 10, 2023
Atmosphere level 💯 #LLCT20 #LegendsLeagueCricket @llct20 pic.twitter.com/wnnvbRUftu
— Georgie Heath🎙️ (@GeorgieHeath27) March 10, 2023
When life gives you a tough defeat, channel your inner Maharaja and rise above it.
Onwards and upwards to the next victory! 💪👑#LegendsLeagueCricket #LLCMasters #LLCT20 #YahanSabBossHain pic.twitter.com/ObSC1wr9E0
— India Maharajas (@IndMaharajasLLC) March 10, 2023
Misbah-Ul-Haq roars through his half-century with 2 fours and 3 sixes!@captainmisbahpk#LegendsLeagueCricket #LLCMasters #LLCT20 #YahanSabBossHain pic.twitter.com/lGKBYGlbYg
— Asia Lions (@AsiaLionsLLC) March 10, 2023
Congratulations Asia Lions and @SAfridiOfficial Bhai!👏
They defeated Gautam Gambhir's India Maharajas in Legends League Cricket!
Player of the match – Misbah-ul-Haq 73 off 50 balls 👏🏽#LLCMasters #LegendsLeagueCricket pic.twitter.com/8jG2TCCLgZ
— Haseeb Arslan (@HaseebarslanUK) March 10, 2023
The way Misbah and Gambhir are batting today, never seemed like they ever quit cricket #IMvsAL
— Viraj Asher (@VirajAsher) March 10, 2023
Misbah Ul Haq wicket reminds me of his wicket in 2011 SF game at Mohali!#LLCMasters#IMvALpic.twitter.com/u16FvVQ7O6
— Nilesh G (@oye_nilesh) March 10, 2023