US Masters T10 League: Yusuf Pathan shines with brilliant all-round performance

Former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan breathed life into the New Jersey Legends' innings, smashing an unbeaten 41 off just 21 deliveries. The brilliant knock came during the second game of the inaugural US Masters T10 League, a tournament that has garnered significant attention among cricket fans.

After a challenging start, the Legends found themselves at 25/2 in the fourth over after losing their openers Jesse Ryder and Gautam Gambhir. However, the game took a turn when Pathan stepped onto the pitch. With no significant support from the other end, the 40-year-old took matters into his own hands, hammering two boundaries and three huge sixes.

Pathan Power! 💪🏻💥 Fireworks from @iamyusufpathan helped #NewJerseyLegends reach a competitive total in the last fixture of the day! 👏🏻💪🏻

Stay tuned to cricket's fastest format, #USMastersT10OnStar Today | 6.30 PM Onwards only on SS1 English + Hindi pic.twitter.com/SE8oFf0xjH

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 20, 2023

Pathan's explosive batting prowess was particularly evident against his former teammate S Sreesanth, whom he hit two successive sixes during his innings. Pathan did not stop at his batting brilliance – he followed up with an impressive bowling spell, claiming the prized wickets of Parthiv Patel and Shehan Jayasuriya. Despite Pathan's valiant efforts, New Jersey lost by a narrow six-wicket defeat with a single ball remaining.

The ongoing US Masters T10 League features six teams competing in a round-robin format, aiming to secure a top-four finish and qualify for the play-offs. The play-offs are set to kick off on August 26, and the final will be played on August 27.

A stalwart of India's white-ball cricket, Pathan played a pivotal role in India's World Cup triumphs in 2007 and 2011. During his international career from 2007 to 2012, Pathan featured in 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is, amassing over 1,000 runs, including two ODI centuries.

Pathan's IPL legacy is equally notable. He made his mark in the tournament's early years, playing a significant role in Rajasthan Royals' victory in the inaugural IPL season in 2008. Throughout his IPL career, which included stints with Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, he amassed over 3,000 runs with a formidable strike rate of 142.97.