Dubai: The Gemini Arabians are hoping to keep up their winning momentum for one last match after sealing their spot in the final of the inaugural Masters Champions League (MCL) at the Dubai Cricket Stadium late on Thursday.
The Gemini Arabians defeated the Sagittarius Strikers by 10 runs in a closely-contested first semi-final, and will now await the winners of the second semi-final between the Leo Lions and Virgo Super Kings that was to be played late on Friday.
Leading the way for the Arabians was Virender Sehwag and Kumar Sangakkara with an 118-run partnership that finally was just enough for the stronger side to nudge ahead.
Sehwag was once again the top-scorer with an aggressive 83, while Sangakkara pitched in with a solid 62 runs and Rana Naved-ul-Hassan came up with a five-ball 14 runs at the end, despite Tino Best taking three wickets in an over. After the departure of Gilchrist, it was Jayawardene’s 65 runs that kept the Strikers’ innings together. And then Phil Mustard got into the act and nearly pulled the team through with a blazing 48 runs from 18 deliveries. But that was not enough as the Strikers managed 181 for 6 in their allotted overs.
This was the sixth successive win for the Gemini Arabians to maintain their unbeaten streak in the competition so far. “There is one more match to go and the intention is to continue winning. This was never going to be an easy match and they [Strikers] had the potential to overhaul our total. But we stuck together as a team and executed our gameplan,” Muthiah Muralitheran told media.
Chasing 192 for a win for a spot in the final, the Adam Gilchrist-led Sagittarius Strikers came up short for a second time since last Friday, as the Arabians’ bowlers once again held sway to restrict them to 181 for 6 at the end of their 20 overs.
“It was a good fight till the end, and Mahela [Jayawardene] was once again outstanding. I am glad that [Phil] Mustard had his moment out there, and it would have been good if we could have gone the distance. It was fun, but frustrating,” the Strikers’ skipper Gilchrist said.
Brief Scores
Gemini Arabians def. Sagittarius Strikers by ten runs: Gemini Arabians 191 for 5 in 20 overs (Virender Sehwag 83, Kumar Sangakkara 62, Rana Naved-ul-Hassan 14 n.o.; Tino Best 3-24) Sagittarius Strikers 181 for 6 in 20 overs (Mahela Jayawardene 65; Phil Mustard 48 not out; Graham Onions 3-37, Muthiah Muralitheran 2-29). Man of the match: Virender Sehwag (Gemini Arabians).
