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On the eve of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 final clash, India Capitals captain Gautam Gambhir played a 63-run knock in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2023 opener against Bhilwara Kings on November 18. India Capitals posted a mammoth total of 228/8 which was chased by Irfan Pathan-led side as he smashed nine sixes in his 19-ball 65.
At JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, Irfan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Anureet Singh struck early and dismissed Hashim Amla in the third over of the innings. Gambhir survived two run out chances. He shared a 107-run partnership for the second wicket with Kirk Edwards. He reached his half-century from 30 balls. In the next over, he got bowled by Rahul Sharma. His 35-ball 63 included eight fours and a six.
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Edwards reached his century with a maximum. He got out to Rahul as well after hitting two consecutive sixes. Edwards' 31-ball 59 was laced with five fours and four sixes. In the next over, Ricardo Powell got out caught and bowled by Jesal Karia for a golden duck. Ben Dunk went ballistic hitting Tim Murtagh for three consecutive fours. Ashley Nurse targetted Karia and hit two back-to-back sixes.
Dunk's cameo came to an end in the 17th over. Anureet got the breakthrough. His 16-ball 37 had three fours and as many sixes. Nurse continued to hit big. Anureet in the penultimate over struck twice to dismiss Gnaneswara Rao and Isuru Udana. In the final over, Irfan got the wicket of Nurse who hit three sixes and two fours in his 20-ball 34. Rusty Theron finished the innings with two sixes taking the score to 228/8.
In the run chase, the Kings lost two early wickets in the form of Lendl Simmons and Tillakratne Dilshan. After a slow start, Solomon Mire and Robin Bist shared a 67-run partnership. Pravin Tambe dismissed Bist who scored 30 runs from 20 balls. Yusuf Pathan hit two fours and a six but got dismissed by Udana. In the same over, Mire departed for a 40-ball 70 that featured nine fours and three sixes. The required run rate was getting out of the grasp when Irfan walked out to bat.
Christopher Barnwell hit a six off Nurse. In the 16th over, Irfan hit Udana for three sixes to revive the run chase. In the 18th over, Theron got the wickets of Barnwell and Karia but Irfan finished the over with two sixes. In the penultimate over, he hit Fidel Edwards for three consecutive sixes. Iqbal Abdulla hit a six off the last ball of the over. The 26-run over made the equation easy. Irfan hit a four followed by a single to win the game for Kings by three wickets and four balls to spare.
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