World Giants crowned champions of the inaugural Legends League Cricket (LLC) tournament as they beat Asia Lions by 25 runs in the final held today (29th January) at Oman.
Asia Lions’ skipper Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and chose to bowl first with making two changes to their playing from last game as they brought in Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Akhtar in place of Romesh Kaluwitharana and Dilhara Fernando.
On the other hand, World Giants had also come up with two changes to their playing XI bringing in Corey Anderson and Brad Haddin replacing Herschelle Gibbs and Jonty Rodes.
World Giants (Playing XI): Kevin Pietersen, Phil Mustard(w), Kevin O Brien, Corey Anderson, Brad Haddin, Albie Morkel, Daren Sammy(c), Brett Lee, Morne Morkel, Monty Panesar, Ryan Jay Sidebottom
Asia Lions (Playing XI): Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga(w), Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Nuwan Kulasekara, Mohammad Rafique, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Shoaib Akhtar
World Giants got off to a great start with the bat as the openers Kevin Pietersen and Phil Mustard put on a brisk 51-run partnership for the first wicket in 4 overs before former Sri Lankan seamer Nuwan Kulasekara struck with the ball.
Lions managed to pull things back as Sri Lankan seamers Kulasekara and Vaas picked up 2 quick wickets putting some pressure on Giants. But former New Zealand batter Corey Anderson coming to bat at 4, changed the complexion of the game smashing a blistering knock of 94 runs off 43 balls with 7 fours and 8 sixes.
Brad Haddin (37) and Daren Sammy (38) also gave impetus to the innings with two cameos as World Giants posted a massive 256 runs in the allotted 20 overs. Kulasekara was the pick of the bowers for Lions as he snared 3 scalps for 45 runs.
Chasing 257 to win, Lions’ opening pair TM Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya got them off to a great start adding 57 runs for the first wicket in 5.3 overs. After their dismissals, Lions were pushed onto the backfoot by Giants bowlers in post powerplay session.
Upul Tharanga (25), Asghar Afghan (24) and Mohammad Yousuf (39*) tried their best to pull the Lions over the line with vital cameos with the bat but they fell short of 25 runs of the target as World Giants emerged winners of the inaugural Legends League Cricket tournament.
Brief Scores
World Giants – 256/5 (20) C Anderson 94*, K Pietersen 48, D Sammy 38, B Haddin 37, N Kulasekara 3/45
Asia Lions – 231/8 (20) M Yousuf 39*, S Jayasuriya 38, TM Dilshan 25, U Tharanga 25, A Afghan 24, M Rafique 22, A Morkel 3/35, M Panesar 2/40
Result – World Giants won by 25 runs
 tournament as they beat Asia Lions by 25 runs in the final held today (29th January) at Oman.){kind=link}