Irfan Pathan-led Bhilwara Kings reach the final of Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2022 after a convincing win over Gujarat Giants at Barkatullah Khan Stadium, Jodhpur. In a high-scoring encounter, Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson ensured that the game did not go down to the wire as Kings won the game by six wickets with nine balls to spare.
Earlier, Giants skipper Parthiv won the toss and opted to bat first. Giants lost their explosive opener Chris Gayle (5) early as he got run out. Monty Panesar was introduced in the powerplay overs and contrary to modern T20 match-ups, he got the wicket of left-handed batter Parthiv (9). Tillakaratne Dilshan and Yashpal Singh got Giants got off to a good start in the powerplay overs despite two wickets.
Sreesanth broke the partnership in the ninth over with the wicket of Dilshan. The Sri Lankan scored 36 runs from 26 deliveries including five fours and one six. In the next over, Rahul Sharma got Thisara Perera out for a golden duck.
After two quick wickets, the fifth-wicket partnership between Yashpal and Kevin O'Brien helped Giants lay a good platform before the slog overs. Yashpal missed his half-century as he got dismissed by Sudeep Tyagi in the 15th over. Yashpal scored 43 runs from 35 deliveries including five fours and one six.
O'Brien missed his half-century as well as he lost his wicket to Tim Bresnan. The Irish all-rounder scored 45 runs from 24 balls including two fours and four sixes. Stuart Binny disappointed in the slog overs and became Sreesanth's second victim of the day. Jeevan Mendis played a much-needed cameo of 10-ball 24 but his wicket in the penultimate over prevented Giants from crossing the 200-run mark. Giants posted 194/9 despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
Chasing 195, Bhilwara Kings got off to a good start. No wickets fell in the powerplay overs. William Porterfield and Morne van Wyk set the tone with 73 runs during fielding restrictions. KP Apanna broke the opening partnership with the wicket of South African wicketkeeper-batter. He scored 31 runs from 18 deliveries including four fours and one six.
Meanwhile, Porterfield got to his half-century from 30 deliveries. Porterfield returned to the pavillion after scoring 60 runs from 43 deliveries. Graeme Swann got the Irish batter's wicket. Porterfield's knock was studded with six fours and three sixes.
Shane Watson and Yusuf Pathan did not let the run rate fall and continued to play big shots. Yusuf played a 11-ball 21 cameo. Sreenath Aravind got his wicket in the 14th over. After Yusuf's wicket, younger brother Irfan walked in and played a similar knock. Irfan hit a couple of sixes in his 13-ball 22 cameo and got dismissed by Aravind as well. In the end, Watson ensured that Kings get over the line before the final over. In the penultimate over, he finished the game. Watson remained unbeaten for 48 off 24 deliveries which had as many as five sixes.