India Maharajas finally opened their account in the ongoing Legends League Cricket (LLC) after registering a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Asia Lions at West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Tuesday.
Fielding first, the Indian side restricted Asia Lions to 157/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Upul Tharanga was the chief architect as he smashed 69 off 48 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes. Similarly, Tillakaratne Dilshan chipped in with valuable 32 off 27 balls, including four boundaries and a six, as the duo went on to add 73 runs for the opening wicket in 8.4 overs.
The Maharajas then made a comeback, with Stuart Binny and Suresh Raina sending back both openers and triggering the batting collapse of the Lions. All-rounder Abdul Razzaq provided some finishing touches with 17-ball 27 to help the Lions reach a competitive total.
In response, the Maharajas completely dominated the proceedings and didn’t give any opportunity to the Misbah-ul-Haq-led team. The pair of Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir took the bowling attack of the Asia Lions to the cleaners, forming an unbeaten 159-run opening partnership to help Maharajas seal the deal with all 10 wickets in hand.
Uthappa hammered an undefeated 88 from just 39 deliveries laced up with 11 fours and five humungous sixes. Likewise, captain Gambhir went on to remain unconquered on 61 off 36 balls, including 12 boundaries. It was Gambhir’s third back-to-back half-century in the Legends League.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
They came, they fought, they won! 👑@robbieuthappa @GautamGambhir @harbhajan_singh @ParvinderAwana @Bisla36 @IrfanPathan @ImRaina @visitqatar#LegendsLeagueCricket #SkyexchnetLLCMasters #LLCT20 #YahanSabBossHain pic.twitter.com/Qd7b7kzQtd
— Legends League Cricket (@llct20) March 14, 2023
Bhai @GautamGambhir kya irada hai? Brilliant consistency 👏 and @robbieuthappa kuch nahi badla yaar. Same power 💪
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 14, 2023
A great feeling to get the first win under the belt 💪🏾 Always a pleasure to bat along with my brother @GautamGambhir !! pic.twitter.com/uUSU54NMfN
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) March 14, 2023
6, 6, 6, 4
Robin Uthappa is batting in 2007. 😱 pic.twitter.com/MfEQ1o5pQE
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 14, 2023
Reunion of KKR legends in LLC – chase down 158 runs without losing a single wicket from just 12.3 overs.
Uthappa – 88*(39) & Gambhir – 61*(36) against Amir, Hafeez, Tanvir, Razzak, Akhtar, Udana & Perara. pic.twitter.com/hCMfN8x6qB
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 14, 2023
Captain Gautam Gambhir leading from the front – his 3rd consecutive fifty in the Legends League Cricket.
61* in just 36 balls with 12 fours, Robin Uthappa played a magnificent hand for his 88* in just 39 balls. pic.twitter.com/wosv0wEaQ6
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 14, 2023
Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir turning back the clock and batting like they did in IPL 2014💯
Indian Maharajas gun down the 158-run target in just 12.3 overs against a bowling line-up that had #MohammadAmir (just played in PSL)#LegendsLeagueCricket pic.twitter.com/P47fjyOAnQ
— Saurabh Srivastava (@Saurv99) March 14, 2023
Gambhir Uthappa at the Top- Guaranteed Success 🔥
110/0 in 9 Overs pic.twitter.com/IBWMBZiw99
— KKR Bhakt 🇮🇳 ™ (@KKRSince2011) March 14, 2023
Robin Uthappa – 88*(39).
Robin Uthappa – 61*(36).What a run chase by India Maharajas, they chased down 158 runs total in 12.3 overs in LLC. Gautam Gambhir & Uthappa showed the domination. Incredible performance! pic.twitter.com/8TfOCPzI4b
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) March 14, 2023
GG and Robin uthappa
The Og opening Pair of KKR 💜 pic.twitter.com/22PwHxJsah— Ashish Shrivastava (@ashishayush1177) March 14, 2023
'Does it ever drive you crazy, just how fast the night changes 🎶'
Gautam Gambhir & Robin Uthappa 🥺💜💛#LegendsLeagueCricket pic.twitter.com/2LtZAkRu6W
— Himanshu | हिमांशु (@iamheemaanshoo) March 14, 2023