Imran Tahir becomes match-winner with 52 runs; India Maharajas lose even after scoring 209 runs

Imran Tahir’s brilliant innings (52 runs off just 19 balls) helped World Giants in chasing successfully a huge total of 210 runs as they beat India Maharajas by 3 wickets in a Legends League Cricket match, played in Oman, on Saturday (January 22).

Batting first, India Maharajas registered a mammoth total of 209 runs losing just 3 wickets in 20 overs. Indian wicketkeeper Naman Ojha played a terrific knock (140 runs off 69 balls) to score a century and give a solid start to the innings. Ojha’s innings was comprised of 15 boundaries and 9 sixes. 

South African pacer Morne Morkel eventually picked up the opening batsman’s wicket in the final over as South Africa’s Tahir took the catch to dismiss Ojha.

Jaffer's dismissal

Another opener, Wasim Jaffer (0 off 2  balls) was dismissed early as English fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom sent Jaffer back to the dressing room in the second over of the match. 

The English pacer seemed to be in a stunning form as on the very next delivery he picked up his second wicket of the match after dismissing Indian batter Subramaniam Badrinath for a duck.

But then skipper Mohammad Kaif came down to bat and notched a solid partnership of 187 runs off 109 balls along with Ojha to take his side’s total to 202 runs. Kaif remained not out with a score of 53 runs off 47 balls. 

English pacer Sidebottom was the best bowler for the Giants as he picked up two wickets in the game.

Chasing a total of 210
In reply, Giants lost their first wicket in the second over after their opener Kevin O’Brien departed scoring 9 runs off 6 balls. 

Another opener, Kevin Pietersen played a brilliant innings to score a half century (53 runs off 27 balls) but eventually he was dismissed by Indian all-rounder Stuart Binny in the 9th over of the innings.

Giants bowler Tahir, later, played a superb knock to score a half century and help his side in reaching a huge total of 210 runs with 3 balls remaining. Tahir hit 3 boundaries and 5 sixes in his innings.

With this victory, Giants registered their first victory of the tournament after playing 2 matches.