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Leo Lions prevail in Masters Champions League

Dubai - Virgo Super Kings bow out of MCL after defeat in semis

Brian Charles Lara may not have found his old touch with the bat but the great West Indian slipped back quite smoothly into the captaincy.
Lara, who had to dash off to the West Indies for personal reasons and returned just in time for this game, astutely led his Leo Lions to victory over the Virgo Super Kings in the semifinal of the Masters Champions League at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday night.
Backed by his bowlers and fielders, Lara outfoxed Graeme Smith's Virgo Super Kings as the Leo Lions defended the modest of totals to cross the line by 17 runs.
The victory set up a final tilt with the Gemini Arabians at the same venue.
Earlier, the Leo Lions owed a somewhat respectable total thanks to James Franklin, who stroked his way to an unbeaten half-century.
The Leo Lions had opted to make first use of the surface but again found themselves in a spot of bother after the Virgo Super Kings attack had dented their batting line-up.
Aussie ace Brett Lee may have been down 20ks on his pace but 'Binga' still worked up some steam and hovered around 140kmph.
After an opening over by left-arm spinner Murali Kartik saw 13 runs come off it, Lee came on and disturbed opener Neil Carter's furniture.
Carter's fellow opener Hamish Marshall lasted seven balls before being caught by Azhar Mahmood off Jacob Oram, in the next over.
Brendon Taylor signalled his intent by upper cutting Lee for a six over third man but he couldn't carry on, edging Azhar Mahmood into the gloves of James Foster.
With three down for 34, the stage was again set for the great Brian Lara, who strode out to applause from the crowd that had gathered at the stadium. A bit jet-lagged, having dashed to Trinidad and back, and with it being a crucial period of play, Lara assessed the situation with Franklin.
The big hits were a bit hard to come by so Lara worked it around for singles and he got to 11 from 20 balls with those alone. But the stylish left-hander fell victim to Gareth Batty, caught by Azhar Mahmood.
As the Leo Lions lower order stuttered, Franklin waged a battle on his own with three lusty hits over the top and two boundaries.
The southpaw ended up with an unbeaten 65 from 48 balls as the Leo Lions managed to reach 139 for seven in their dig.
Lee also accounted for Johan Botha, caught brilliantly by Kartik, and Robin Peterson, caught by substitute fielder John Mooney, to finish up with three for 31.
The target didn't look threatening by any means threatening but the Virgo Super Kings made a hash of the chase. Also, the Leo Lions threw the kitchen sink to make a match of it.
Opener Neil McKenzie was brilliantly gobbled by Scott Styris at first slip off Fidel Edwards after which Humayun Farhat was leg before.
Azhar Mahmood then played Kyle Jarvis onto his stumps which left the Leo Lions tottering at 18 for three. Like Franklin in the first innings, Leo Lions Graeme Smith too fought a lone battle up top as all fell around him.
The left-hander managed 39 from 32 balls with four boundaries and a six but his fightback was brought to an end by compatriot Robin Peterson, who had Smith caught by Hamish Marshall.
And after Hasan Raza and James Foster went, a target which had looked easy at the start, drifted farther and farther away.
james@khaleejtimes.com