India Capitals triumphed in a thrilling encounter against Gujarat Greats, winning by 4 wickets in Match 18 of Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2024 on Monday (October 7). Held at Molana Azad Stadium in Jammu, the game saw Greats set a target of 134 after winning the toss and opting to bat first. The Capitals, led by Ian Bell, successfully chased down the target in a last-over finish. Veteran pacer S. Sreesanth delivered a memorable maiden over early on, showcasing his class, while Manan Sharma shone with both bat and ball for the Greats.

S. Sreesanth’s brilliant maiden over in Legends League Cricket 2024

Former Indian pacer Sreesanth turned back the clock with a stunning maiden over to open the innings for the Capitals against the Greats. His first delivery to Naman Ojha was a beautifully executed outswinger, which deviated late, beating Ojha’s bat and going straight to the wicketkeeper. The second ball was almost a replica, swinging away just enough to once again elude the batter, leaving Ojha without a chance to make contact.

The third ball, a tighter delivery, forced Ojha to cautiously defend towards point, but there was no opportunity to steal a run. Sreesanth maintained pressure with the fourth ball, again forcing a defensive push to the same direction, keeping Ojha pinned. The fifth delivery came in sharply towards the batter, passing over the middle stump, creating another dot ball. The final ball was another outswinger that swung in towards the batter just slightly, ending up in the keeper’s gloves as Ojha once again failed to make contact.

Each delivery was a display of Sreesanth’s mastery of line and length, leaving Ojha struggling to rotate the strike or even get off the mark. Sreesanth’s seam movement, combined with subtle changes in pace, made it nearly impossible for Ojha to settle.

Here’s the video:

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Gujarat Greats sets a challenging total

In the match, the Greats struggled early in their innings, losing Shikhar Dhawan and Chris Gayle within the first five overs. Dhawan, who captained the Greats, was dismissed for just 1, while Gayle contributed a quick 21 off 11 balls. Mohammad Kaif then anchored the innings with a gritty 40 off 41 balls, playing a key role in stabilizing the innings alongside Yashpal Singh, who added 20. Deba Das provided late momentum with his 20 off 13 balls, lifting Gujarat to a competitive total of 134/6 in 20 overs. Iqbal Abdulla was the standout bowler for the Capitals, taking 3 wickets, while Dhawal Kulkarni chipped in with 2.

India Capitals’ steady chase

Chasing 135, The Capitals lost wickets early, with both Ojha and Dwayne Smith falling to Manan’s tight bowling. However, captain Bell played a calm and composed innings, staying unbeaten on 41 off 49 balls. Ben Dunk (22 off 14) and Bharath Chipli (22 off 21) provided valuable middle-order contributions that helped steady the innings. Although wickets fell at regular intervals, Bell guided the Capitals to the finish line, ably supported by Ashley Nurse (11* off 11). The Capitals reached the target with one ball remaining, sealing a hard-fought four wicket win.

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