Gautam Gambhir-led India Capitals continued their dominant run in Legends League Cricket (LLC) with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Harbhajan Singh's Manipal Tigers. Zimbabwe's Hamilton Masakadza starred in the run chase that ended in the 18th over at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack as Tigers' bowlers with the exception of Muttiah Muralitharan were smashed around the park.
After winning the toss Gambhir opted to field first. Mitchell Johnson struck in the powerplay overs. Tatenda Taibu got out in the fifth over after scoring just five runs from nine deliveries. Jesse Ryder and Mohammad Kaif helped Tigers recover. They were slow early on. Ryder got to his half-century from 40 deliveries whereas Kaif got to the milestone from 38 deliveries.
In the slog overs, Ryder accelerated. Liam Plunkett broke the partnership in the penultimate over. Ryder scored 79 runs from 56 deliveries including five fours and as many sixes. In the same over, Plunkett dismissed Kaif as well. The Indian batter scored 67 runs from 48 deliveries including nine fours and one six. They shared a 126-run partnership for the second wicket.
Corey Anderson, Harbhajan and Pardeep Sahu could not do much against Rajat Bhatia in the last over. Anderson and Sahu lost their wickets to Bhatia as Tigers managed to post 161/5 on the board.
The run chase got off to a decent start but Capitals lost the wicket of their openers Gambhir (15) and Solomon Mire (28) in the powerplay overs. Batting at no.3, Masakadza took control of the run chase with Ross Taylor playing second fiddle. Masakadza got to his half-century from 31 deliveries in the 12th over. In the middle overs, Muralitharan bowled brilliantly. The off-spinner got the wicket of Taylor (29) in his final over. He conceded just 15 runs from his quota of four overs.
After Muralitharan's spell, Masakadza and Ashley Nurse made short work of the runs remaining. Nurse hit three sixes in his 11-ball 21 whereas Masakadza remained unbeaten for 68 off 39 deliveries including seven fours and four sixes as Capitals won the game by seven wickets.
