Twitter Reactions: World Giants survive Pathan scare to make way into final

Over 450 runs were scored in a single T20 game in one day and while the batters made merry, the bowlers found themselves at the receiving end on a typical flat wicket during the Legends League Cricket 2022 clash between India Maharajas and World Giants in Oman.

The ball made its way to the boundary and into the stands at regular intervals in a contest that saw both teams toiling hard for a place in Saturday’s final. South African batting icon Herschelle Gibbs’ sensational knock of a 46-ball 89 was a whirlwind innings that was more than good enough to help the World Giants in registering a five-run win.

Earlier in the game, India Maharajas had won the toss and decided to bowl first. Munaf Patel castled Kevin Pietersen for just 11 before Phil Mustard and Herschelle Gibbs added 98 runs for the second-wicket stand. Gibbs took the attack on the Maharajas bowlers as the Proteas superstar amassed 89 runs off 49 deliveries at a strike rate of 193. His knock included seven fours and as many sixes as it powered his team to a mammoth total of 228/5 from their 20 overs.

Brett Lee helps World Giants snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

Even though it was a flat wicket the total was an intimidating one and the India Maharajas had to attack right from ball one. Despite losing Wasim Jaffer and Subramaniam Badrinath early, the chase was still alive as wicket-keeper batter Naman Ojha (95) and Yusuf Pathan (45) added 103 runs for the second wicket stand.

While the duo was out in the middle, they kept the steep asking rate in check. After Pathan was dismissed in the 13th over, Stuart Binny followed soon but, Ojha kept his team in the hunt, buthe fell agonisingly short of a second ton in the tournament after being caught by Morne Morkel off Ryan Sidebottom in the 15th over, which opened the floodgates for the World Giants.

However, it was not over as Irfan Pathan played a sublime knock of a 21-ball 56 and helped his team reach close to the target. The penultimate over bowled by Albie Morkel went for 14 runs and the pressure was back on the World Giants. Nonetheless, Brett Lee bowled a tidy final over removing the dangerous Pathan and conceded just two runs as India Maharajas were restricted to 223/7 and the Kevin Pietersen-led side won by five runs to advance to the final against Asia Lions.

Here’s how the Twitterati reacted to the World Giants win: