LLC 2022, Eliminator Review: Bhilwara Kings set finals' date with India Capitals after chasing down 195

Bhilwara Kings have booked their berth for the final match of the 2022 Legends League Cricket (LLC) after defeating the Gujarat Giants side in the Eliminator match played at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium, Jodhpur on September 3 (Monday). 

Speaking about the game, the Giants won the toss and opted to have a bowl first. Universe Boss Chris Gayle failed to get going as he got run out after scoring just five runs. Skipper Parthiv Patel also got out cheaply as the batting team lost two wickets within the field restrictions. 

Opening batter Tillakaratne Dilshan and Yashpal Singh stitched a valuable partnership for the Giants as they crossed the 80-run mark. However, Dilshan got cleaned up by senior pacer S Sreesanth. All-rounder Thisara Perera came and went without disturbing the scorers as the batting side found itself in trouble yet again. 

Irish batter Kevin O'Brien along with Jeevan Mendis played some valuable knocks for their team as the batting team crossed the 190-run mark in its allotted 20 overs. For Bhilwara, Sreesanth (two wickets), Fidel Edwards (one wicket), Monty Panesar (one wicket), Rahul Sharma (one wicket), Tim Bresnan (one wicket), and Sudeep Tyagi (one wicket) were the successful bowlers. 

Bhilwara openers gave a flying start to their team

Chasing a big total of 190+ runs, the Kings openers William Porterfield and Morne van Wyk gave a superb start as they stitched a 90-run partnership for the opening wicket.

Even after both openers went in quick succession, some vital contributions from Shane Watson (48 runs), Irfan Pathan (22* runs), and Yusuf Pathan (21) meant that Bhilwara remain in full control of the game. In the end, the Kings chased down the total within 18.3 overs with six wickets to spare. 

For Gujarat Giants, KP Appanna scalped one wicket, followed by Sreenath Aravind (two wickets) and Graeme Swann (one wicket). However, that was not enough to win the game for their team as they got knocked out of the competition.