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Irfan Pathan led Bhilwara Kings from the front in the tough run chase against Indian Capitals in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2023 opener. At JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, Irfan smashed as many as nine sixes in his 19-ball 65 to spoil the Capitals' party and chased down the massive target of 229 with four balls to spare.
Irfan walked in to bat in the 14th over of the run chase. After Solomon Mire's wicket, the Kings were 134/4. They still needed 95 runs from just 40 balls. Mire had scored 70 runs from 40 balls including nine fours and three sixes but did not have much support from the other end. In the same over, Irfan's brother Yusuf Pathan was dismissed as well. Christopher Barnwell got off the mark with a boundary first ball but Kings needed 90 runs from the last six overs.
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Barnwell hit a six in the next over but still 12 runs were scored. Now the equation was 78 runs from five overs. Kings needed a big over and Irfan decided to take matters into his own hands. Irfan hit the left-arm pacer for three consecutive sixes. In the next over, he hit Pravin Tambe for a six. Barnwell followed it up with a boundary. In the 18th over, the Kings suffered a double blow. Rusty Theron got the wickets of Barnwell and Jesal Karia. But Irfan decided to finish the over with two sixes.
In the last two overs, 31 runs were needed. Iqbal Abdulla did the right thing by getting Irfan on strike. Fidel Edwards erred and Irfan hit him for three consecutive sixes. He reached his half-century from just 15 balls. The southpaw took a single off the fifth ball. Abdulla made it easy with a six off the final ball. After the 26-run over, the Kings needed just five runs from the last over. Irfan hit Nurse for a boundary and then took a single to take Kings home with three wickets in hand and four balls to spare.
Earlier, he won the toss and opted to bowl first. Half-centuries from skipper Gambhir, and Kirk Edwards and cameos from Ben Dunk and Nurse helped the Capitals post 228/8.
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