‘Lag hi nai raha yeh Gambhir retire hua hai’ – Gautam Gambhir’s half-century guides India Maharaja’s to their first win in Legends League Cricket Masters

India Maharajas bounced back from consecutive losses in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2023 to win by a massive 10-wicket margin against table-toppers Asia Lions in match no. 3 on Tuesday (March 14) night at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha. Half-centuries from Robin Uthappa and skipper Gautam Gambhir propelled the Maharajas to victory over Shahid Afridi’s Lions.

With Uthappa scoring an unbeaten 88 off 39 balls with 11 boundaries and five sixes and Gambhir scoring an unbeaten 61 off 36 balls with 12 boundaries, the duo put on a 159-run opening stand to guide the team through to their first win.

Having chosen to field first, India Maharajas limited Asia Lions to 157 for 5 in 20 overs. Upul Tharanga hit 69 off 48 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes for Asia Lions, while Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 32 off 27 balls with four boundaries and a six. They put on 73 runs in 8.4 overs as an opening partnership, but it was in vain.

To begin, the India Maharajas bowled their left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan, who conceded only three runs in the first over. When wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa dropped Tharanga at 21, he escaped being caught behind to an outside edge to the third delivery.

Asia Lions were 76 for 2 at the halfway point, with Misbah-ul-Haq, the hero of their first two matches, joining Tharanga. Pravin Tambe claimed Misbah, who was brilliantly stumped by wicketkeeper Uthappa for a duck. Abdul Razzaq ensured Asia Lions scored more than 150 runs. Finally, they finished with a total of 157/5 in 20 overs.