By Deepak Sharma
E-mail: spacewalker008@gmail.com
Jodhpur, India, 25-09-2024: Banking on Jesal Karia’s all-round performance, the Southern Superstars secured their second win in Legends League Cricket 2024 by defeating the India Capitals by 4 wickets with 5 balls to spare at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the India Capitals opened with Dwayne Smith and Faiz Fazal. The team lost their first wicket with just 14 runs on the board, as Faiz Fazal (9) was dismissed by Abdur Razzak. Dwayne Smith contributed 36 off 33 balls, while Naman Ojha added 16 from 21 balls. Ben Dunk was the standout performer for the Capitals, top-scoring with 61 from just 29 deliveries. Ashley Nurse chipped in with a valuable unbeaten 40* off 24 balls, guiding his team to a competitive total of 171/4 in their 20 overs.
For the Southern Superstars, Jesal Karia was the most successful bowler, picking up 2/53 in his 4 overs. Abdur Razzak and Pawan Negi claimed one wicket each.
In pursuit of a 172-run target, Martin Guptill and Shreevats Goswami opened the innings for the Southern Superstars, adding 41 runs for the first wicket before Goswami was dismissed for 17 from 17 balls by Parvinder Awana. Parthiv Patel was out for a first-ball duck, also to Awana. Pawan Negi and Guptill tried to steady the chase, but Guptill was dismissed for 36 off 28 balls. Negi contributed 38 off 26 balls, keeping the Superstars in the hunt.
In the crucial final stages, Chirag J. Gandhi and Jesal Karia put together a match-winning 61-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Gandhi remained unbeaten on 38* off 21 balls, while Karia supported him well with 23* off 18 balls, taking their side over the line.
For India Capitals, Rahul Sharma was the standout bowler, claiming 3/35 in his 4 overs. Parvinder Awana finished with 2/35 in 4 overs, while Colin de Grandhomme picked up one wicket.