🏏Legends League Cricket 2022 - Finals 05/10/2022🏏 - Page 6

BK: 8-1 after 2 overs

BK: 65-3 after 9 overs

Kings need 106 runs in 60 balls.

BK: 98-4 after 13 overs

Bhilwara Kings need 78 runs in 42 balls

Wow what a close match

Manipal Tigers won by 3 runs

Phew! That was some game. It ebbed and flowed throughout before the Tigers got over the line right at the end. Both teams left a few runs out in the middle. The Tigers' death-overs batting left a lot to be desired, as did the Kings' middle-overs approach. That said, there were enough positives in this match for both sides. The Tigers' opening partnership was simply superb, with Ryder and Taibu utilizing the field restrictions. For the Kings, the Pathan brothers very nearly tilted the game in their team's favour. Both teams still find themselves in the lower trenches of the points table but with this victory, you feel that the Tigers will back themselves to make a fist of what remains in this tournament. The Kings, meanwhile, would be hoping to get back to winning ways as soon as possible

Dilhara Fernando, Player of the Match: I am perfectly fine, no aches and pain. Really enjoyed my bowling.

Harbhajan Singh, Manipal Tigers captain: Very good game for us. Every match is important from here onwards. The last two games did not go our way. We fought till the end and glad that it went our way. On this wicket, if you hit a length, it is not easy to hit boundaries. Dilhara is an experienced bowler. All I was worried about was he should not bowl No balls. Till the last ball is bowled, the game is not over. We have that belief that one wicket can change the course of the game. Tatenda was actually not in the side today and he showed what he can do. Jesse was brilliant. Never thought he would bat the way he did today. We did not get the start in the last two games. Today we did and that is why we got 175. Felt it was 10 runs short but the win is important.

Irfan Pathan, Bhilwara Kings captain: We came pretty close. We could have done things different with the bat and ball but in hindsight, it was a great game. Me and my brother need to make sure we stay at the crunch time as well. Important to see what Harbhajan was doing as well. We wanted to play as many overs of Harbhajan and Murali as possible. If it would have worked, it would have been great but I would not change anything. Energy is there, as long as my body is moving, I will keep playing every day.