Legends League Cricket: Indian Maharajas battled World Giants in match five of the tournament.Indian Maharajas vs World Giants: India Maharajas were beaten by World Giants in the fifth match of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2023 on March 15, Wednesday. The game, which took place at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, witnessed fifties from Suresh Raina and Chris Gayle but it was Gayle storm which blew away the Maharajas.
With four points the Giants, led by former Australian captain Aaron Finch, are now second on the points table.
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Gautam Gambhir-led Maharajas now have three losses in the tournament.
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FOUR! Van Wyk hits the winning runs and with that World Giants win by 3 wickets. A slightly nervy end towards the latter part of the game. What should have been an easy chase was made slightly complicated by the WG batters.
Just five runs have come in the last two overs and the Giants bench look slightly nervous. World Giants need 3 runs in 12 balls with four wickets in hand.
OUT! Gayle is gone at last, Raina delivered a length ball which did not bounce much and the left hander is caught plumb in front. Indians celebrate but it is probably too late. Chris Gayle is gone for 57 off 46. Score after 15 overs, WGS: 125/5 | Just 12 needed to win
Gayle storms continues to blow over Doha and the ripple effect seems to have rubbed off on Sami Patel who slams two fours in two balls off Raina.
Yusuf Pathan, right-arm off break, comes into the attack and gets the wicket of Ross Taylor! Raina takes the catch! He is gone for 7(6). Score after 12 overs, WGS: 106/4
The Universe Boss takes a single to bring up 50 off just 26. 38 of those runs from boundaries. Welcome to the Gayle show.
Harbhajan gets Finch with a tossed up delivery and the batter went for a sweep but a top edge leads to Tambe taking an easy catch. Score after 10 overs, WGS: 99/3
Tambe gets Watson with a classical delivery ! Watson tried to fend it away but the spins past his defence to trim the off bail. Watson departs for 26 off 16. Score after 9 overs, WGS: 98/2
Harbhajan to Watson and back to back fours. First it is a sweep and then a whack behind square. Score after 8 overs, WGS: 92/1
Gayle's storm is on and the Gaints are dominating with the bat despite losing Amla early on. They seem to be coasting towards victory. Score after 6 overs, WGS: 72/1
Harbhajan Singh in to bowl the 2nd over and he gets the same treatment as Pathan as Gayle hits double fours in his 4th and 5th deliveries. WGS 21/0 after 2 overs
Gayle and Amla are at the crease. Gayle is on strike. Irfan Pathan will open the attack. And Gayle starts with a four and adds another one in the 3rd ball. Just the start they needed. WGS 10/0 after 1 over
A wicket of the last ball of the innings and Harbhajan Singh goes for 2 and with that we come to the end of the innings. While Raina top-scored with 49 but Brett Lee and Tino Best did the damage with the ball. Score after 20 overs, IMR: 136/9
Brett Lee does the damage again and snares three in an over. Rain, Kaif and Irfan are all back in the dugout. Sensational over from Binga! Score after 19 overs, IMR: 134/8
Raina and Pathan cut loose and they are dealing in boundaries and sixes at the moment. The Maharajas need it at the moment. Score after 18 overs, IMR: 129/5
Tino Best comes on to bowl the last over of his spell and Pathan smacks the third ball of his over for SIX runs! He picked up the length early and that worked for the batter. Final five overs coming up. Score after 15 overs, IMR: 104/5
Tino Best in on fire and get two in two to change the face of the game! First he snares Yusuf Pathan and then gets Binny. Score after 13 overs, IMR: 91/5
After conceding 24 in his first two overs, Monty Panesar is back into the attack and he gets a wicket! Bisla tried to cut that one but the edge is taken by the keeper. He is out for 36 of 34 balls. Yusuf Pathan, right handed bat, comes to the crease. Score after 12 overs, IMR: 88/3
Once again Suresh Rain takes on Panesar and the result is the same! Time out! Maharajas are pacing up their inning! Will Giants be able to stop them? Score after 9 overs, IMR: 68/2
Suresh Raina goes down the track to Monty Panesar and hits it straight past the bowlers head for a huge six. With that the PowerPlay comes to an end. Score after 6 overs, IMR: 42/2
Mpofu gets the better of Sodhi who is OUT for 2. He danced down the track and tried to go for the big hit but a top edge goes straight to M van Wyk who takes an easy catch. Score after 5 overs, IMR: 30/2
Patel tosses it on middle and leg. Bisla gets low and sweeps, and no one there in the deep and Bisla picks up a boundary. Score after 4 overs, IMR: 24/1
Arm ball from Samit Patel does the trick! Uthappa was cramped for room and Finch takes the catch at mid-on. Reetinder Sodhi, right handed bat, comes to the crease. Score after 2 overs, IMR: 11/1
Robin Uthappa and Manvindar Bisla are at the crease. Uthappa is on strike. Brett Lee will open the attack ! Let's Play
Aaron Finch(c), Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Ross Taylor, Hashim Amla, Morne van Wyk(w), Tino Best, Samit Patel, Monty Panesar, Brett Lee, Chris Mpofu
Robin Uthappa(w), Manvinder Bisla, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Mohammad Kaif, Reetinder Sodhi, Irfan Pathan, Stuart Binny, Harbhajan Singh(c), Pravin Tambe, Ashok Dinda
World Giants win the toss and decide to bowl first!
Ricardo Powell, Shane Watson, Lendl Simmons, Aaron Finch (c), Morne van Wyk (wk), Ross Taylor, Kevin O’Brien, Jacques Kallis, Chris Gayle, Monty Panesar, Paul Collingwood
Gautam Gambhir (c), Robin Uthappa (wk), Manvinder Bisla, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, Yusuf Pathan, Stuart Binny, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Pravin Tambe, Ashok Dinda
India Maharajas will be facing World Giants in match five of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) tonight. It's a chance for both the teams to move up the standings, as they prepare for a battle tonight! Stay tuned for live updates