Pakistan Legends defeated World Legends 11 to win the championship, know the UAE Friendship 2022 final winner, score, points table, awards list
Pakistan Legends had a great day, defeating India Legends in the virtual semifinal before thrashing World Legends 11 in the final.
Pakistan Legends won the first UAE Friendship Cup 2022 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday, March 7, after defeating arch-rivals India Legends and avenging a group-match setback to the World Legends 11.
UAE Friendship Cup 2022 Winner, Points Table, Final Score, Results And Awards List
Imran Nazir’s squad produced a stronger batting showing to shame the World Legends 11 by 14 runs after defeating the Mohammed Azharuddin-led India Legends by eight wickets in a high-scoring semi-final. On Sunday, March 6, Ajantha Mendis’ team surged into the T10 competition finals by winning all three of their matches.
In the final, Pakistan Legends won the toss and opted to bat first, scoring 133 for 5 in 10 overs thanks to opener Salman Butt’s 20-ball 45 (eight fours and one six), Naved Latif’s (20 not out off eight balls, four fours), and Mohammed Sami’s (36 not out off 10, one four, five sixes). When Pakistan’s seniors were down to 79 for 5 in the eighth over, the total appeared improbable, but the Latif-Sami partnership scored 49 runs in the final two overs to lift their team to a daunting total. In those two costly overs, Mendis and Syed Rasel were on the receiving end.
Graeme Cremer of Zimbabwe continued his fine form with the ball in the game by collecting three wickets for just six runs, while Abdur Razzak of Bangladesh and Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka each grabbed one wicket.
Until Naved’s Strikes, The Dilshan-Mustard Pair Kept World Legends Alive.
When the World Legends 11 were chasing the mark, they immediately lost opener Asghar Afghan (10 off five, one four and one six), but in-form Phil Mustard (50 off 21, two fours and five sixes) and Dilshan (34 off 16, four fours and two sixes) came together to score 78 runs in less than six overs.
Just when supporters thought the duo would take the game away from the Pakistan Legends as they did in the group game, Naved-ul-Hasan removed both attacking batsmen to put the pursuit on hold.
Chamara Kapugedera (three off four), who is noted for her powerful hitting, was quickly castled by Sami, and the World Legends 11 were eliminated. Hamilton Masakadza scored 18 runs off 11 pitches, including one four and one six, but it was not enough. The World Legends 11 were dismissed for 119 in 10 overs, losing by 14 runs.
The Pakistan Legends bowlers were led by Naved, who took three wickets, while their spearheads, Mohammad Irfan and Sami, both took one.
The Bollywood Kings finished fourth in the three-day competition without winning a single game.
Performers with a Difference
Best Batsman of the final: Mohammad Sami
Sami’s spectacular display with the bat won the game for the Pakistan Legends in the final, despite the fact that he is a bowler. He came out at a time when his side was having trouble scoring runs, but he made hitting look effortless. He also took a wicket during the opposition’s chase to make sure he had his day at the office. Mustard also delivered another valuable knock, although it fell short of Sami’s spectacular knock.
Highest Wicket Taker
Although Cremer’s team lost in the final, the former Zimbabwe captain demonstrated his class as a leg-spinner throughout the competition. He ended the competition with nine wickets in four games, a statistic that would make his opponents jealous.
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