Sharjah: Virender Sehwag was at his imperious best with a trademark swashbuckling 134 to ensure a smooth 12-run win for the Gemini Arabians in the top-of-the-table clash against the Sagittarius Strikers in the Masters Champions League at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The former India opener hit 10 fours and 11 sixes to bring the healthy holiday crowd to their feet in his 63-ball stay in the middle. Together with former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara – dropped on five occasions while making 51 runs - the Delhi opener put on a 135-run partnership to ensure his side reached a daunting total of 224 for 7 in their 20 overs.

However, after the successive departures of Sehwag and Sangakkara, there was drama aplenty as West Indies’ Krishmar Santokie took four wickets in a devastating first four deliveries of the final over to record the first hat-trick of the competition. Santokie ended with figures of 5 for 30 in his four overs.

After making the initial breakthrough while trapping Jacques Rudolph leg before earlier in the match, Santokie sent back Sangakkara, Brad Hodge, Justin Kemp and Naved-ul-Hasan in quick succession to restrain the Arabians, although a bit late, to a challenging 224 for 7.

Sehwag was thrilled with the win and the semi-final spot as the top team in the competition. “Definitely scoring a century in any format would make anyone happy. I am very happy too, more so because we have qualified to the knock-outs,” Sehwag told the media.

The Sagittarius Strikers’ run chase suffered initially as skipper Adam Gilchrist departed for a duck off the very second delivery. Mahela Jayawardene – who had scored the first century of the competition on Thursday – was next gone for 20 off eleven balls followed immediately by Michael Carberry after scoring 14 off seven balls.

Imran Farhat and his Pakistani teammate Yasir Hameed then steadied the ship with a stand of 74 runs for the fourth wicket. Both departed in quick succession and Yasir Arafat took over with a 16-ball 32 to bring the Strikers within an unlikely win. After the Pakistani batsman was cleaned up by Mushtaq, Shane Bond and Santokie kept the chase alive till they finished at 212 for 9.

Santokie’s five-wicket haul did not fetch his team the win and a vital two points. “But I just believed we could make a difference by sticking to the gameplan,” Santokie said.

The Gemini Arabians are at the top with eight points and their next match on Saturday against the Virgo Super Kings will be played without some of their star performers. “A few players will be rested for sure, but I can’t afford a break as I am the youngest of the lot,” Sehwag joked.

With two more days of qualifying matches left, the tussle to occupy the next three spots in the knock-out will be between the remaining five teams with the Sagittarius Strikers and Virgo Super Kings in pole position with four points each.

BRIEF SCORES

Gemini Arabians def. Sagittarius Strikers by 12 runs: Gemini Arabians 224 for 7 in 20 overs (Virender Sehwag 134, Kumar Sangakkara 51, Jacques Rudolph 27; Krishmar Santokie 5 for 30). Sagittarius Strikers 212 for 9 in 20 overs (Imran Farhat 51, Yasir Hameed 41, Yasir Arafat 32, Mahela Jayawardene 20; Muralitharan 3 for 38, Kyle Mills 2 for 23). Man of the Match: Virender Sehwag (Gemini Arabians).

SATURDAY’S MATCHES: 3pm: Gemini Arabians vs Virgo Super Kings. 7.30pm: Leo Lions vs Sagittarius Strikers.