Doha, Qatar
World Giants pulled off a thrilling two-run win over India Maharajas in the second match of the Skyexch.net LLC Masters at the Asia Town Cricket Stadium in Doha. The edge-of-the-seat thriller followed after World Giants had posted 166 for 8 in 20 overs riding on skipper Aaron Finch’s 53 off 31 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes and Shane Watson’s 55 runs off 32 balls with five boundaries and three sixes.
A captain’s knock of 68 from Gautam Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh’s four-wicket spell for 13 runs for Indian Maharajas, unfortunately, went in vain. It was Gambhir’s second consecutive half-century after his 54 against Asia Lions in the opener and his 68 in this match came off 42 balls with nine boundaries and one six. With eight runs needed off the last over, Brett Lee gave away just five runs to give the defending champions World Giants a winning start.
Earlier, World Giants won the toss and elected to bat. ‘The Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle, who opened with his skipper Aaron Finch, smashed the second delivery from Irfan Pathan to the extra cover boundary. Pathan kept Gayle quiet with the rest of his deliveries. Harbhajan Singh, who bowled the third over struck with his first delivery clean bowling Gayle with a beauty that spun in to hit the leg stump. Gayle trying to play a paddle shot, missed the turn and fell for 4. Shane Watson greeted Harbhajan with two consecutive boundaries – the first an elegant sweep to fine leg and another a pull to backward square leg.
World Giants went past the 100-run mark through a classy square-driven boundary from Watson off Irfan Pathan in the 10th over. Tambe bowled a brilliant 11th over giving away just five runs. Watson raced to his half-century hitting Pathan for two sixes in the 12th over. Tambe removed Watson too by having him caught at long-on by Murali Vijay.
Jacques Kallis got out, caught by the agile Mohammad Kaif at mid-wicket off Pathan for 8. Ross Taylor, who had played some lovely knocks in the second edition of this league, and Kevin O’Brien pushed the score to 135 for 4 in 15 overs when Kaif produced another flying catch, diving forward to get Kevin O’Brien out for 4 off Harbhajan Singh. Two balls later, Harbhajan trapped Ross Taylor for 1. One ball after, Harbhajan also had Morne van Wyk sweep and edge his pad to get caught by wicketkeeper Uthappa for 1. Tino Best and Chris Mpofu picked 18 runs off Yusuf Pathan. who bowled the 19th over and World Giants ended up at 166 for 8 in 20 overs.
Chasing a run rate of 8.30, Robin Uthappa opened with his skipper Gautam Gambhir. Brett Lee bowled a tight first over giving away just four runs. The 50-run partnership came in 5.2 overs. Gambhir was severe on Chris Mpofu and hit him for a six over the covers and also scored three boundaries to pick 20 runs off the over.
In the last over, India Maharajas needed eight runs off six balls. Stuart Binny pulled Lee to Powell for 2 to make it seven runs off three balls. With five runs needed off the last ball, Pathan could get only two runs. Lee gave just five runs in the last over to seal his team’s victory.
Brief scores
World Giants bt India Maharajas by two runs. World Giants 166 for 8 in 20 overs (Aaron Finch 53, Shane Watson 55, Harbhajan Singh 4 for 13, Pravin Tambe 2 for 17)
India Maharajas 164 for 5 in 20 overs (Robin Uthappa 29, Gautam Gambhir 68, Mohammad Kaif 21 n.o, Ricardo Powell 2 for 16).
Player of the Match: Aaron Finch
