UAE Friendship Cup 2022, Match 4 Review: Tillakaratne Dilshan's knock buries Pakistan Legends

The World Legends 11 made it two out of two in the ongoing 10-over UAE Friendship Cup 2022 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday, March 6, by beating the Pakistan Legends by 15 runs. The World Legends 11 beat the India Legends by 73 runs in the first match of the tournament on Friday, March 5.

Pakistan Legends captain Imran Nazir won the toss and invited the World Legends 11 to bat first. They put up a scintillating batting display with former Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (78 not out off 38 balls, four sixes, nine fours) and former England wicketkeeper-batter Phil Mustard (33 off 16, one six, five fours) putting up 82 runs in just 6.2 overs.

Former Bangladesh first-class player Jupiter Ghosh (four not out in seven balls) joined Dilshan after former Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman took Mustard’s wicket and the duo took the score to 137 in 10 overs.

The Pakistan Legends bowlers failed to replicate their performance against the Bollywood Kings in their previous game with the likes of Naved-ul-Hasan, who bowled beautifully in that match, going for plenty (41 runs in two overs).

Rehman’s late surge not enough for Pakistan Legends

Chasing the competitive target, the Pakistan Legends had an ordinary start and with none of their top batters surviving long, they were reduced to 58 for 5 in the seventh over. Rehman then came to the rescue of his team with the bat by blasting 55 runs in just 16 balls with the help of seven sixes and two fours. But it was too much of an ask for the lower order and despite Rehman hitting three sixes in the final over, the Pakistan Legends finished on 122 for 6 in 10 overs to lose by 15 runs. Abdur Razzak took three wickets for 23 runs while Ajantha Mendis, the captain of the World Legends 11, took two for 24 runs.

Special Performers

Best Batter of the game: Tillakaratne Dilshan

Just like his international playing days, Dilshan launched a fierce attack after a steady start and ensured that no opponent bowler could settle himself. He was merciless against all the bowlers and finished with a 200-plus strike rate. Abdur Rehman tried to match Dilshan’s hitting for the Pakistan Legends but the World Legends 11 opener did it under less pressure.

Best Bowler of the match: Abdur Razzak

The former Bangladesh left-arm spinner dismissed Pakistan Legends captain Imran Nazir (14), who made a solid fifty in the last match against the Bollywood Kings, besides Taufeeq Umar (5) and Adnan Akmal (11). These three blows pegged them back and they could not overcome the setback.