LLC 2022, Match 11 Review: Yusuf Pathan helps Bhilwara Kings topple Gujarat Giants in close finish

The 11th and penultimate group match of the second edition of the Leageds League Cricket saw Irfan Pathan's Bhilwara Kings' topple the Gujarat Giants in a nail-biting encounter. Kings chased down a stiff target of 187 runs on the back of a clinical batting performance. Yusuf Pathan was named the player of the match for his all-round contributions in the match.

Bhilwara Kings made a brisk start to the chase as William Porterfield and Morne van Wyk compiled a 57-run stand for the first wicket in the first six overs. The latter's dismissal sparked a mini collapse as the King's lost four quick wickets in the middle overs as the spinners took control of the proceedings.

But Yusuf Pathan, as he did throughout his playing career, started a counterattack with his trademark big hits around the ground. The power-hitting all-rounder scored a blistering 39 off 18 deliveries to drag the Bhilwara Kings back into the chase.

The Kings were in a spot of bother after that wicket, but Jesal Karia (39 off 24) and skipper Irfan Pathan (26 off 14) took advantage of some lackluster bowling at the death to take the team home with two deliveries to spare. 

The 'Universe Boss' announced himself in the LLC 2022 with a trademark innings

Earlier in the match, Irfan Pathan won the toss and elected to field first on a decent batting surface at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur. The West Indian pair of Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons made a brisk start to their innings before the latter fell in the penultimate over of the powerplay.

Chris Gayle, who made an unceremonious return to India in his previous outing, made up for it with typically flamboyant innings. The globetrotting T20 superstar compiled 68 runs in just 40 deliveries to announce himself in the competition. Although the southpaw did not receive much support from the stand-in skipper Parthiv Patel (1 off two deliveries) and Kevin O Brien (4 off two deliveries), the Gujarat Giants maintained a steady scoring rate.

Yashpal Singh, who played an astonishing hand in a losing cause in the previous encounter, registered another trailblazing half-century to take the Gujarat Giants to a competitive score of 186 runs in their 20 overs. Yusuf Pathan was the pick of the Kings bowlers, scalping two wickets in his four overs while everyone else, apart from Fidel Edwards, contributed with a wicket.