• Home
• /
• Sports

Botha stars in Lions win over Strikers in MCL

Sharjah - The South African needed medical attention but luckily no damage was done.

Read more...

Johan Botha recovered from a nasty blow on his helmet grill by Tino Best to soldier Leo Lions to a crucial five-wicket win over Sagittarius Strikers in the Oxigen Masters Champions League (MCL) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday night.
Botha failed to read a fast-rising delivery from West Indian speedster Best and was struck almost at eye level on the grill. The South African needed medical attention but luckily no damage was done. In fact he single-handedly carried the Lions past the Strikers' total of 151 with a match-winning 70 (three sixes and four fours).
However there was a lot of drama once he got out to Santokie with 17 runs needed from 12 balls. It now came down to Scott Styris to apply the finishing touches.
The New Zealander plundered a six and a four off the second last over from the West Indian to make it three runs from six balls.
But Yasir Arafat struck in his second ball to remove Robin Peterson and then Styris was dropped on the boundary and with the scores tied Heath Streak escaped a run-out making for an exciting finish for Leo Lions who won with a ball to spare.

Huge win this to drive us into the top 4 and keep our semi final hopes up. Congrats, Lions! #LionsAmongMen #LEOvSAG pic.twitter.com/FvI2f6hwR0
- Leo Lions (@LeoLionsMCL) February 6, 2016

The win has raised Leo Lions' hopes of making the semifinals as they take on winless Libra Legends today at 7.30 pm in their last match.
Sagitarrius' hopes of making the last four will now hinge on results of the other matches. Gemini Arabians have already qualified for the semis to be played in Dubai. The fight now is between Leo Lions, Sagittarius Strikers, Capricorn Commanders and Virgo Super Kings for the remaining three slots.
Earlier, Adam Gilchrist (33) and Mahela Jayawardene (21) gave Sagittarius a decent start with a 40-run partnership but runs were hard to come by after they were separated.
The rest of the batsmen managed double digits and at one stage even 150 looked difficult but thanks to Fidel Edwards' wayward and expensive last over wherein he conceded 23 runs (10 runs coming through wides and no balls).
The same bowler who gave away only nine runs in two overs and bagged two wickets suddenly lost his line and length and was bowling all over the place with his bowling figures at the end of three overs reading 3-0-32-2.
Had it not been for his generosity Sagittarius would have found the going tough.
clareto@khaleejtimes.com

MCL STANDINGS (As of matches played till Saturday)
Teams                              P              W           L               Pts                   NRR
Gemini Arabians               5                 5            0               10            (+1.419)
Sagittarius Strikers          5                  2            3             4              (+0.716)
Leo Lions                        4                  2           2              4             (+0.122)
Capricorn Commanders    4                 2            2               4             (-O.033)
Virgo Super Kings            4                 2           2                4            (-0.500)
Libra Legends                 4                  0           4               0             (-2.308)