India Maharajas finally bounced back after suffering successive losses in the ongoing edition of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2023 to register a massive 10-wicket win against the table toppers Asia Lions in match no. 3 at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha on Tuesday (March 14) night.
Gautam Gambhir And Robin Uthappa Put Up A Stellar Show
Riding on the stellar performances of Indian legends Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa, India Maharajas were able to defeat the Shahid Afridi-led Asia Lions.
Uthappa and Gambhir put up a stellar show of a 159-run opening partnership with Uthappa playing a stunning knock of 88* off 39 balls, smashing 11 boundaries and 5 sixes. On the other hand, Gautam Gambhir, who has been in some red-hot form in the ongoing tournament, smashed his 3rd fifty in a row. He played a brilliant knock of 61 runs off 36 balls, smashing 12 boundaries in his knock.
Opting to field first, India Maharajas managed to restrict Asia Lions to 157 runs for 5 in 20 overs. Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 32 off 27 balls, smashing four boundaries and a six, for the Asia Lions, while Upul Tharanga smashed 69 off 48 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes. The duo put together a 73-run opening partnership in 8.4 overs, however, it all went in vain.
India Maharajas’ Irfan Pathan was terrific with the ball as he gave away just three runs in the first over. All thanks to the stunning performances of Maharajas bowlers Asia Lions were restricted to 157/5 off their 20 overs.
Chasing the target, India Maharajas were brutal in their chase as they reached the required target with their consistent scorer and skipper Gautam Gambhir and on-song Uthappa. Both the batters tackled the pace of Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Amir confidently.
Brief scores of Asia Lions vs India Maharajas:
Asia Lions 157 for 5 in 20 overs (Upul Tharanga 69, Tillakaratne Dilshan 32, Abdul Razzaq 27 not out) lost to India Maharajas 159/0 in 12.3 overs (Robin Uthappa 88 n.o., Gautam Gambhir 61 n.o.)
