Kevin O’Brien’s 96 runs off 45 balls went in vain as Asia Lions successfully chased a mammoth total of 206 runs to beat World Giants by 6 wickets in a Legends League Cricket match played on January 21 (Friday), in Muscat, Oman.
Batting first, Giants registered a huge total of 205 runs losing 7 wickets in 20 overs. Ireland batsman Kevin O’Brien played a brilliant knock and scored 96 runs off just 45 deliveries. His innings was comprised of 7 boundaries and 7 sixes.
Terrific knock
Kevin seemed set to score a century as well but eventually he was dismissed by Sri Lankan spinner Muthiah Muralidaran in the 18th over of the innings but by then the Irish batsman had managed to take his team to a defendable score of 178 runs.
Apart from Kevin no other Giants batsman could do something productive in the batting unit. Openers Kevin Pietersen (14 runs off 11 balls) and Phil Mustard (28 runs off 22 deliveries) had tried to produce a solid start for their side but Lions bowlers managed to pick up wickets in quick succession.
For Lions, their pace bowler Nuwan Kulasekara and Mohammad Hafeez picked up two wickets each.
Lions bowlers not only conceded 205 runs but also they showed lack of discipline in their bowling as they conceded 11 extra (8 wides and 3 leg-byes) runs.
Dilshan's half-century
In reply, Lions lost their first wicket in the 4th over of their innings after wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal departed scoring 14 runs off 10 balls. But the other opener Tilakaratne Dilshan went on to score a half century (52 runs off 32 balls) and smashed 2 boundaries and 3 sixes.
Dilshan got a good support from Upul Tharanga (63 runs off 43 balls) as well but the real job was done later by their skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (19 not out off 11 balls) and Asghar Afghan (14 not out off 7 balls). These two batsmen played superbly to successfully chase down a big target of 206 runs.
A 40-run partnership off just 16 balls between these two batsmen helped their side in reaching 209 runs losing only 4 wickets in 19.2 overs.
With this win, Lions secured their first victory of the tournament and are currently at second spot.
