CUTTACK: In the tenth match of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) on Thursday, Hamilton Masakadza's explosive bat enabled the India Capitals to overcome the Manipal Tigers by seven wickets with the help of fellow Zimbabwean Solomon Mire (28) and New Zealander Ross Taylor (29).
The Capitals successfully chased down a 162-run target with 16 balls remaining thanks in large part to Masakadza's spectacular 68 not out off 39 balls (seven fours and four sixes). The 39-year-performance old's eclipsed the earlier contributions made by Jesse Ryder and Mohammad Kaif from the opposing team.
Ryder and Kaif struck a 126-run partnership to help the Tigers score 161/5, playing as if they had never left competitive cricket. Although Kaif's contribution of 67 off 48 balls was not as significant as Ryder's 76 off 56 balls with five fours and an equal number of sixes, it was nonetheless significant. Kaif scored nine goals and a six.
With 7 points following the victory at the Barabati Stadium, Gautam Gambhir's India Capitals now hold the single top spot in the League standings, while Harbhajan Singh's Tigers continue to languish at the bottom of the standings with just 3 points.
Gambhir chose to bowl first after winning the toss. Tatenda Taibu and Ryder began the Tigers' inning. The New Zealander appeared at ease when he was on the field, but the former captain of Zimbabwe could not be considered to be in the same situation.
In the first ball of the sixth over, former Australia speedster Mitchell Johnson removed Taibu from the strike zone. Kaif then joined Ryder in the centre at that point. The Capitals put out their best effort over the course of the following 13 or so overs, but Ryder and Kaif remained unbeatable.
Ryder and Kaif then focused on gaining more self-assurance at the crease as the Tigers did not score many runs in the Powerplay Overs (46/1). They did not get many huge shots, but maybe it was part of their strategy—to hold onto their wickets before going on the attack in the final few overs.
It appeared up until the 15th over that the Capitals bowlers had done a great job of controlling the Tigers, who could only muster 117/1 after 15 overs of play. However, Ryder and Kaif increased the scoring rate somewhat in the final five overs before they were both knocked out in the 19th over by Englishman Liam Plunkett.
Although Rajat Bhatia, a medium bowler, bowled the Tigers' penultimate over, they were unable to capitalise on it, scoring only 4 runs and losing two wickets. The Gujarat Giants and Bhilwara Kings will square off at the Barkatullah Stadium in Jodhpur on Friday.
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