UAE Friendship Cup 2022, Match 3 Review: Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Sharma seal the deal for India Legends in nail-biter

It was a nail-biting finish in the Match 3 of the UAE Friendship Cup 2022 played between India Legends and Bollywood Kings. Both sides were head to head during the ten match over contest, however India Legends managed to get over the line by a bare margin of 2 runs.

Winning the toss at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, India Legends opted to bat first. However, the batting side was jolted with a blow in the very first over of the match with opener Imtiyaz Ahmed bagging a golden duck. The innings was then put together by other opener Mohammad Asaduddin (22 off 24 balls) and former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin (31 off 28) balls. The late impetus were provided by Ajay Sharma, who blasted 19 runs off just seven balls scoring one boundary and two sixes.

With contributions coming from the above mentioned players, India Legend managed to post a competitive total of 83 runs for the loss of two wickets in their allotted 10 overs. For Bollywood Kings, Shailendra Singh, who opened the attack for his side, was pick of the bowlers scalping one wicket, but most importantly he gave away just eight runs in his quota of two overs. Among other bowlers, Sidhant Mule managed to get one wicket as well.

Bollywood Kings had a terrible start in their chase

Chasing a target of 84, Bollywood Kings had the worst of the start as they lost three wickets inside the four overs at a score of 38 runs. However, batter Abhishek Kapur kept his sides hope alive, scoring 33 runs at just 16 balls with a strike rate of 206.25. The batter also smashed two boundaries and three maximums in his innings. Even with Kapur’s lusty hits and 18 extras given by the Legends, it was too much of a task for Kings.

Special Performers

Best Batter of the game: Abhishek Kapur

Highest run getter across both sides, Abhishek Kapur got into the nerves of Indian Legends as he went berserk lower down the order. The batter smashed 33 runs off just 16 balls, single handedly keeping the hopes alive for Bollywood Kings. However, it was too much of a task to be done alone as his side lost the match by just two runs.

Best Bowler of the match: Ajay Sharma

Indian legends bowler Ajay Sharma was most successful with the ball as he scalped two wickets in the match. Ajay, who completed his quota of two overs, gave away just 15 runs ensuring that his team wins this all-important match.