Picture Credit: Twitter/@llct20
The second season of the Legends League Cricket kicked off with the charity match between the India Maharajas and World Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The iconic stadium was full of fans as they were present in big numbers for witnessing some cricketing legends take the field once again.
The Giants started off the game on an incredible note as they posted 170 in the first innings but the Maharajas pulled off an incredible chase, thanks to an brilliant knock by Tanmay Srivastava and Yusuf Pathan who took the side post a comfortable six-wicket win. But the true highlight of the fixture was during the innings break, where fans, in unison, were captured singing ‘Vande Mataram’ as the Eden Gardens was presented with a magical light show.
Watch the video here:
Talking about the game, Indian pacer Pankaj Singh registered a five-wicket haul in the exhibition game and was the best bowler for the Maharajas. But then it was the Srivastava and Yusuf Pathan show as both batters scored half centuries and stitched a 103-run stand to carry the team out from a precarious position. Srivastava scored 54 off 39, while Yusuf was unbeaten at 50 off 35 balls. Irfan Pathan then finished the game with a quickfire 20 in nine balls with three sixes.
The proceeds from this fixture will be given to Kapil Dev's NGO, which works towards girl child education. Former India captain and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly was set to participate in the benefit match but could not take part, citing personal reasons.
Talking about the next fixture, Virender Sehwag’s Gujarat Giants will lock horns against Gautam Gambhir's India Capitals in the tournament opener on Saturday at the Eden Gardens.