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MCL: Sangakkara goes wild, Gemini Arabians win inaugural match

| | Jan 29, 2016, at 05:02 pm
Dubai, Jan 29 (IBNS) The inaugural match of the Masters Champions League saw some exciting power hitting by retired cricketers, that made one wonder why some of them are still not playing for their international side.

In a clash between Gemini Arabians and Libra Legends, Jacques Kallis, captain of the LL, won the toss and asked the other team to bat first. What followed was a brutal onslaught by Richard Levi, Kumar Sangakkara and Brad Hodge, followed by a brief initiation by skipper Virender Sehwag.

Asked to bat first, the GA put up a mammoth 234 for the loss of 3 wickets after the end of 20 overs.

Facing the first ball of the tournament, Virendre Sehwag tonked it for a six. Sehwag, who scored 21 off 11 balls, got out quickly but a firm platform was set.  

Richard Levi, who looked out of touch, unable to time the ball well started to find the middle of the blade and hoicked a couple for sixes and drove past the leg side for boundaries.

Levi's innings of 62 was cut short by Brad Hogg, who by far was the pick of the bowlers on his side.

Sangakkara took 8 balls to get off the mark, but scored at a strike rate of 200 later to score 86 of 43 balls.

The southpaw hit 6 boundaries and seven sixes in his brutal knock.

Ending proceedings for the Arabians was Brad Hodge. The former Aussie international scored 46 off 19 balls, hitting 2 fours and 4 sixes.

Apart from Brad Hogg, who gave away just 25 runs in his 4 overs, the others were taken to the cleaners by the batters.

Ian Buttler, Ryen ten Doeschate and Brad Hogg picked up a wicket each.

For the legends, they finished with 156 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.

Ryan ten Doeschate scored 53 off 37 balls and hit 3 fours and a six.

He was supported for a while by Sean Ervine (22) and Tim Ambrose (30).

In the bowling department, Kyle Mills, Navel-ul-Hasan and Muttiah Muralidharan picked up 2 wickets each for the Arabians.

Justin Kemp accounted for a wicket.

Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly who was suppose to captain the Legends has now pulled out of the tournament, due to a back spasm.

However Ganguly was present in the stadium to witness the encounter and said that he is excited to see the likes of Lara, Gilchrist and Vaughan play it out.

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