In the opening match of the
Legends League Cricket 2022,
India Maharajas crushed Asia Lions by six wickets in Muscat on Thursday.
Chasing 176 to win, the India Maharajas had a shaky start after losing the top three wickets early. Opener
Stuart Binny was the first wicket to fall for the Maharajas, who was dismissed by legendary
Shoaib Akhtar.
Soon,
Subramaniam Badrinath was removed for a two-ball duck after he met a run-out.
Umar Gul also joined the party as he sent back
Naman Ojha to reduce Maharajas for 34/3 in 6.1 overs. But then, the Indians made a comeback as captain
Mohammad Kaif, and power-striker
Yusuf Pathan teamed up to take the game away from the Lions.
Yusuf took his fans down the memory lane after he took Lions’ bowlers to the cleaners, smashing a brilliant 80 from just 40 deliveries with the help of 14 boundaries, including five gigantic sixes. He and Kaif formed a dominating partnership of 117 runs for the fourth wicket before a mix-up between the two ended Yusuf’s incredible innings.
Kaif then stitched an unbeaten 28-run stand with Yusuf’s brother
Irfan Pathan as the Maharajas chased down the target with five balls to spare.
Earlier, the Asia Lions posted 175/7 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to crucial knocks by
Upul Tharanga and captain
Misbah-ul-Haq. Tharanga top-scored with 66 off 46 balls, including seven fours and a couple of sixes, while Misbah made 44 from 30 deliveries.
Manpreet Gony and Irfan were the pick of the bowlers for the Maharajas. While Gony bagged a three-wicket haul for 45 in his quota of 4 overs, the younger Pathan took a couple of scalps while conceding 22 runs in 4 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
किस-किस ने देखा
@iamyusufpathan smashing 80 off 40 in Legends League Cricket last night?
ব্যাপক ব্যাটিং against a bowling attack including Shoaib Akhtar, Muralitharan, Umar Gul and others.
10 Years apart – Smashing it then, smashing it STILL! ?
#Cricket #YusufPathan #KKR pic.twitter.com/x1GFMUKgtQ — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders)
January 21, 2022
After all this time? Always ?
#RoyalsFamily |
@iamyusufpathan pic.twitter.com/ByCWOKo8Ah — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals)
January 20, 2022
Yusuf Pathan is batting as if it's the IPL 2008 final. Or 2014 game v SRH at Eden Gardens (scored 72* off 22)
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
January 20, 2022
A 28 ball fifty by Yusuf Pathan in Legends League Cricket inaugural match.
pic.twitter.com/xs6vG5pek2 — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra)
January 20, 2022
Indian Kings pummeled and thrashed Asian Cats by 6 wickets in the opener match of Legends League Cricket 2022. ??>??+??
#LegendsLeagueCricket #CricketTwitter — ??????? ???? ? (@imtheguy07)
January 20, 2022
Indian Kings pummeled and thrashed Asian Cats by 6 wickets in the opener match of Legends League Cricket 2022. ??>??+??
#LegendsLeagueCricket #CricketTwitter — ??????? ???? ? (@imtheguy07)
January 20, 2022
A clinical win for Indian Maharajas ✌
Scorecard:
https://t.co/tXMMiGcYL1#LegendsLeagueCricket pic.twitter.com/t6NZ8btxet — CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
January 21, 2022
India Maharajas Won by 6 wickets
What an Inning by Yusuf, Single handedly won it for India ?
pic.twitter.com/SGrGgigv1S — S H E B A S (@Shebas_10)
January 20, 2022
So is Yusuf Pathan available for this IPL auction??
#LegendsLeagueCricket #YusufPathan @iamyusufpathan — Kartik Kudva (@AurBataBhai)
January 21, 2022
Why did Yusuf Pathan even retire?
#LegendsLeagueCricket — Lakshya Vimal (@LakshyaVimal)
January 21, 2022
Irfan Pathan all round performance
Rampage Yusuf Pathan
kamran akmal dropping simple catch
#LegendsLeagueCricket pic.twitter.com/3DO3U39J3u — Rokithraju (@rokithraju20)
January 20, 2022
Incredible run chase by India Maharajas – chasing 176 runs, they were 34 for 3 from 6.1 overs then Yusuf Pathan 80(40), Kaif 42*(37) and Irfan Pathan 21*(6) helped them to chase the target with 5 balls left against Asian Lions.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
January 20, 2022
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