Twitter Reactions: Yusuf Pathan’s mayhem powers India Maharajas to stunning win

A perfect climax for the first game of the Legends League Cricket 2022 as the India Maharajas powered to victory by five wickets with some thunderous sixes from the Pathan brothers. The elder one, Yusuf, played an incredible knock to turn the game on its head and skipper Mohammad Kaif played the perfect foil to him. Stars like Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag did not play in the first game for the India Maharajas, who have opened their account with a stunning win.

Earlier in the game, India Maharajas won the toss and opted to bowl first at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground. All rounder Stuart Binny removed Sri Lankan batter Tilakaratne Dilshan in the first over while Kamran Akmal and Upul Tharanga stitched an excellent partnership in the powerplay. However, the Asia Lions lost some quick wickets to leave the scoreboard at 79 for four in the 10th over. Tharanga carried his good hitting with 66 off just 46 deliveries while the skipper Misbah-ul-HaqMisbah-ul-Haq helped the side with a 44 off 30 balls to take the side to a competitive total of 175 for 7 in their 20 overs.

Yusuf Pathan goes bang bang

In reply, the India Maharajas did not start the innings as they would have liked as they were stuttering at 34 for the loss of 3 wickets in the 7th over. Binny, Naman Ojha and Badrinath were all gone and the onus was on the skipper Mohammad Kaif and Yusuf Pathan to do the repair work. Yusuf went after the bowling right from the outset while his companion Kaif was happy to give the strike to the big lad.

Umar Gul was taken to the cleaners in his first over by Yusuf as the momentum shifted in the favour of the India Maharajas. Yusuf continued his assault on the bowlers and he looked unstoppable at the crease despite the likes of Muttiah Muralidharan and Shoaib Akhtar bowling. The Baroda lad hit 9 fours and five huge sixes in his knock of 80 in just 40 deliveries and left India Maharajas with just 28 needed to win off 19 deliveries.

It was a day of the Pathans as Irfan got going straightaway after the dismissal of his brother. Irfan hit two fours and one sixes in his quickfire innings of 21 off just 10 deliveries and almost sealed the win for the India Maharajas. Kaif who was at the other end for most of the period saw through his side with a well made 42 off 37 deliveries and the India Maharajas won by five wickets in the end with five balls to go.

Here’s how Twitterati reacted to India Maharajas’ win: