Published: Jan 30, 2016, 03:14 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 31, 2016, 11:28 AM (IST)
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of the fourth game of the inaugural season ofMasters Champions League (MCL) Twenty20 tournament. The encounter will be played between between Gemini Arabians and Leo Lions in Dubai on Saturday. We shall give you the updates of the match as it progresses. Leo Lions is expected to be led by legendary West Indies’ batsman Brian Lara while Brendan Taylor will keep wickets. Gemini Arabians, on the other hand, will be marshalled by Indian batting stalwart and one of the most intimidating batsmen of his days Virender Sehwag. Both the teams hail of some of the greats to have played the game.
Player of the match: Muttiah Muralitharan
Match report here
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Gemini Arabians 133/2 in 18 overs | Target 133 | Kumar Sangakkara 41(41), Brad Hodge 65(43): Gemini Arabians comfortably win the match with two overs to spare. This is their second consecutive victory. Brad Hodge smashed a swashbuckling unbeaten 65 which included five boundaries and two sixes. He was well supported by Sangakkara who also carried his bat through his run-a-ball knock of 41.
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Gemini Arabians 116/2 in 16.5 overs | Target 133 | Kumar Sangakkara 41(40), Brad Hodge 48(37): Both Sangakkara and Hodge are approaching their respective half centuries. Whoever gets to it will also become the first batsman to hit a fifty in the tournament. It has been some really good batting from the duo. Not just slam bang but situational and diplomatic batting from the batters. Hodge has hit three boundaries and a six in his innings.
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Gemini Arabians 81/2 in 13.2 overs | Target 133 | Kumar Sangakkara 24(30), Brad Hodge 30(26): Brad Hodge is playing more freely while Sangakkara is playing a patient innings. Hodge has struck two boundaries while Sanga one, which proves that the batters are rotating the strike pretty well. Arabians now require 52 runs from 40 balls with eight wickets left.
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Gemini Arabians 54/2 in 10 overs | Target 133 | Kumar Sangakkara 10(20), Brad Hodge 17(16): Richard Levi departs for run-a-ball 13. His wicket was claimed by former Indian spinner Ramesh Powar. Kumar Sangakkara is playing very patiently at the moment along with Brad Hodge. OUT! Richard Levi c Marshall b Ramesh Powar 13(13)
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Gemini Arabians 28/1 in 4.5 overs | Target 133 | Richard Levi 13(12), Kumar Sangakkara 1(6): Virender Sehwag fails to judge a Robin Peterson’s delivery and is bowled. Sehwag hit one six in his 12-run knock. Kumar Sangakkara has arrived at the crease after Sehwag’s departure. Gemini Arabians now require 105 runs from 91 balls with nine wickets remaining. OUT! Virender Sehwag b Robin Peterson 12(11)
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Gemini Arabians 2/0 in 1 overs | Target 133 | Virender Sehwag 1(4), Richard Levi 0(2): Virender Sehwag and Richard Levi have opened the batting for Gemini Arabians. Fidel Edwards has bowled a tight first over. He was Lions’ hero in the last game; let’s see if he comes out good in this game as well.
INNINGS BREAK
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Leo Lions 132/7 in 20 overs: Heath Streak 0(0), Johan Botha 10(9): Sound of timber! James Franklin is cleaned up by Muttiah Muralitharan for 35. He was Lions’ top-scorer. Scott Styris too falls for 32. Lions post 132 for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. It is a paltry score as far as T20 cricket is concerned. Lions will have to bowl very well if they wish to defend it. OUT! James Franklin b Muttiah Muralitharan 35(37), OUT! Scott Styris c Kyle Mills b Justin Kemp 32(31)
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Leo Lions 97/5 in 15.1 overs: James Franklin 25(29), Scott Styris 18(19): James Franklin and Scott Styris’ partnership is now worth 40 runs. Both the batters have batted sensibly since the loss of the fifth wickets in 8.3 overs where there were 57 runs on board. Can Lions score around 45 runs in the final 29 deliveries? Let’s find out.
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Leo Lions 73/5 in 12.2 overs: James Franklin 14(21), Scott Styris 6(9): Run rate has slowed down after the loss of three wickets in quick succession. Muralitharan’s one over is still left; so no respite for Leo Lions. Two former New Zealand all-rounders— Scott Styris and James Franklin are batting at the moment. Saqlain Mushtaq and Jacques Rudolph are bowling currently.
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Leo Lions 66/5 in 10.2 overs: James Franklin 11(15), Scott Styris 2(3): Muttiah Muralitharan picks his third wicket. He sends Herschelle Gibbs back to the pavilion for two. Lions have to figure a way to tackle Muralitharan (who is bowling his third over currently) or else they may soon find themselves struggling to reach even the 100-run mark. OUT! Herschelle Gibbs c Justin Kemp b Muttiah Muralitharan 2(9)
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Leo Lions 57/4 in 8 overs: James Franklin 4(7), Herschelle Gibbs 2(6): Muttiah Muralitharan conjures a magic spell. He sends back both Brendan Taylor and Brian Lara, who came next for 23 and naught respectively. Leo Lions are now in a difficult situation. Two new batters— James Frnaklin and Herschelle Gibbs are at the crease now. OUT! Brendan Taylor lbw Muttiah Muralitharan 23(16), OUT! Brian Lara c Virender Sehwag b Muttiah Muralitharan 0(1)
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Leo Lions 50/2 in 6.1 overs: Brendan Taylor 23(15), Herschelle Gibbs 1(4): Brendan Taylor is batting pretty quick. He has already struck five boundaries in the 15 deliveries he has faced till now. Herschelle Gibbs on the other end is taking his time to settle down. Brian Lara and James Franklin are next in the batting order.
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Leo Lions 25/2 in 3.3 overs: Brendan Taylor 4(3), Herschelle Gibbs 1(1): Just when Hamish Marshall was trying to up the tempo, he is unfortunate to get run out for 16. He faced only nine balls and hit three boundaries in his innings. Soon after, Robin Peterson too follows suit. He is cleaned up by Kyle Mills for six. Leo Lions now need a partnership from Brendan Taylor and Herschelle Gibbs who are new to the crease. OUT! Hamish Marshall run out Rudolph 16(9), OUT! Robin Peterson b Kyle Mills 6(9)
LIVE CRICKET SCORE: Leo Lions 16/0 in 2 overs: Hamish Marshall 10(6), Robin Peterson 4(5): Hamish Marshall and Robin Peterson have opened the innings for Leo Lions. Marshall has already struck two boundaries early on in the innings. Kyle Mills and Graham Onions are bowling at the moment.
Toss: Leo Lions win the toss and elect to bat first
Teams:
Gemini Arabians: Virender Sehwag (c), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Richard Levi, Jacques Rudolph, Brad Hodge, Justin Kemp, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Graham Onions, Saqlain Mushtaq, Kyle Mills, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Leo Lions: Brian Lara (c), Brendan Taylor (wk), Hamish Marshall, Herschelle Gibbs, Robin Peterson, James Franklin, Scott Styris, Johan Botha, Heath Streak, Ramesh Powar, Fidel Edwards
Sehwag, who called it a day from all forms of cricket in October 2015, was elected to lead the Gemini Arabians side. The side hails of legendary players like Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chanderpaul. Most of the players featuring in this tournament also played the Cricket All Stars tournament, which was the joint initiative of Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne.
Leo Lions, besides Brian Lara also hails of some big names of the game like Herschelle Gibbs,Johan Botha, Heath Streak, Darren Gough and Scott Styris. Interestingly, all the six teams are named after the zodiac signs. Each will lock horns with the other five on one occasion and the winner will advance to the knock out stages.
Gemini Arabians: Virender Sehwag (c), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Muttiah Muralitharan, Kyle Mills, Saqlain Mushtaq, Jacques Rudolph, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Justin Kemp, Paul Harris, Brad Hodge, Richard Levi, Ashish Bagai, Graham Onions, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Saqib Ali.
Leo Lions: Brian Lara (c), Brendan Taylor (wk), Darren Gough, Simon Jones, , Fidel Edwards, Herschelle Gibbs, Robin Peterson, Johan Botha, Scott Styris, Hamish Marshall, James Franklin, Heath Streak, Kyle Jarvis. Ramesh Powar, Neil Carter, Mohammad Tauqir.
