Deepak Sharma
E-mail: spacewalker008@gmail.com
Surat (02-10-2024): Martin Guptill’s unbeaten knock of 126* guided Southern Superstars to their fifth consecutive win in the Legends League Cricket 2024. They comfortably defeated Konark Suryas Odisha by 8 wickets, with 24 balls to spare, at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat on Wednesday.
After losing the toss and being put into bat, Konark Suryas Odisha started well with openers Richard Levi and Jesse Ryder. The pair added 76 runs for the first wicket before Levi, who smashed a quickfire 63 off 21 balls, was dismissed by Subodh Bhati. Ryder struggled to find momentum, contributing 18 runs from 18 balls. Yusuf Pathan chipped in with a brisk 33 off 22 balls, while skipper Irfan Pathan scored 10 from 10 deliveries. Towards the end of the innings, Dilshan Munaweera scored 16 off 13 balls, and Vinay Kumar remained unbeaten on 18* from 13 balls, helping the team post a total of 192/9 in their 20 overs.
For Southern Superstars, Subodh Bhati was the standout bowler with figures of 3/22 in 3 overs. Chathuranga de Silva impressed as well, taking 2/21 in his 4 overs. Abdur Razzak (1/33), Monu Kumar Singh (1/36), and Pawan Negi (1/26) each picked up a wicket to contain the opposition.
Chasing a target of 193, Southern Superstars started with skipper Shreevats Goswami and Martin Guptill opening the innings. They added 33 runs for the first wicket before Goswami was dismissed for 19 off 15 balls. Guptill then found solid support from Hamilton Masakadza, as the duo put on a 90-run partnership for the second wicket. While Masakadza contributed 20 off 17 balls, Guptill was the star of the chase, finishing with a magnificent 131* from 54 balls. Pawan Negi also chipped in with 15* from 11 balls to see their team home.
For Konark Suryas Odisha, Ben Laughlin (1/27) and Pravin Tambe (1/39) were the only bowlers to claim wickets during the Southern Superstars’ innings.