LLC 2022, Qualifier Review: Ross Taylor and Ashley Nurse guide India Capitals to final

India Capitals pulled off a memorable victory while chasing against Bhilwara Kings in the Qualifier fixture of the Legends League Cricket 2022 (LLC) on Sunday, October 2. Kings put up a big total (226/5) while batting first after impressive fifties from Shane Watson and William Porterfield.

But legendary Kiwi batter Ross Taylor and the Caribbean star Ashley Nurse registered big knocks to chase the target down with four wickets and three balls remaining to reach the final.

Kings' captain Irfan Pathan won the toss and decided to bat first at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur. Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson bowled out opener Morne van Wyk on the fourth delivery of the innings to give the Capitals a bright start.

But Porterfield and Watson then dominated the first half of the innings with an explosive 116-run partnership for the second wicket. Pankaj Singh dismissed Watson in the 13th over to break the partnership.

But batter Yusuf Pathan smashed 48 runs off just 24 balls with the help of four sixes to keep the Kings on track for a big total. The 32-year-old bowling all-rounder Rajesh Bishnoi scored unbeaten 36 runs off just 11 balls to guide Kings to a big total of 226/5 in 20 overs. For Capitals, Johnson took two wickets and Liam Plunkett and Pankaj grabbed one apiece. 

Ashley Nurse pulls off a memorable chase

While chasing the mammoth target, Capitals lost star opener Gautam Gambhir for just one run on a Monty Panesar's delivery in the first over. Fidel Edwards then dismissed in-form Hamilton Masakadza in the fourth over to keep pressure on the Capitals. In his next over, Edwards removed Dwayne Smith to put Kings in complete control of the game.

But Ross Taylor continued his red-hot form with another big knock. He smashed 84 runs off just 39 balls with the help of nine fours and five sixes to keep his team in the game. Sudeep Tyagi dismissed Taylor in the 16th over to take the game to a last-over thriller. 

Nurse scored two back-to-back sixes in the last over against Sreesanth to guide India Capitals to a wonderful win with three balls remaining. Nurse remained unbeaten on 60 runs off 28 balls and Plunkett on 20 off nine balls. For Kings, Edwards took two wickets but Tino Best and Dinesh Salunkhe struggled for wickets. Kings will face Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator fixture on Monday (October 3) at the same venue.