Legends League Cricket 2022: Kevin Pietersen wreaks havoc with the bat to fetch a victory for World Giants

The 5^th match of the Legends League Cricket took place between World Giants and Asia Lions at Al Amerat Cricket Ground. Asia Lions looked in great shape in the last game but they lost today’s contest to the Giants by a fine margin of seven wickets. Winning the toss, Darren Sammy walked up with his men to bowl first and restricted the opposite end to just 149 runs.

Sanath Jayasuriya and Dilshan walked up to open the side for Lions but couldn’t give a solid start. While Jayasuriya returned after managing just three runs, Dilshan added 17 runs from his end. The main batting contribution in the middle came from Asghar Afghan yet again, who shined with both bat and ball in the last game.

Afghan smashed 41 runs in the game off just 26 deliveries. Romesh Kaluwitharana added crucial 26 runs from his side but none of this was enough to let their team breach the 15o-run mark. Morne Morkel and RJ Sidebottom picked two wickets each while the former conceded at a fine economy of 6.00.

Kevin Pietersen plays a blinder for World Giants

As soon as World Giants started to chase, opener Kevin Pietersen wreaked havoc with bat and operated on a different level. His fiery knock of 86 runs off just 38 deliveries made the target look extremely tiny and their chase game got wrapped up in just 13 overs. He was declared as the player of the match for his amazing innings that took the Giants home.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the game

Looks like Kevin Pietersen doesn’t retire.He can play better cricket than some so called power hitter.Scored 30 runs from Sanath Jayasuriya's over.What a power hitting.#LLCT20 #Pietersen

— Ak Sobuj (@AkSobuj3) January 26, 2022

Watching Kevin Pietersen bat even years after he last played his last competitive cricket game is such a treat. Those 9 fours and 7 sixes have single-handedly been sufficient to defeat the Lions side that anyway didn’t post a daunting score. #LLCT20 #LegendsLeagueCricket

— Dwaipayan Mukherjee (@Dwai_Doyen) January 26, 2022

Bhai Aaj jo Kevin Pietersen ne Sanath Jayasuriya ko maara hai. Bachpan ke saare dard dur ho gaye. 👏🏻 #LLCT20 https://t.co/cyRfWdDN53

— Abhishek (@abhishekr2502) January 26, 2022

Looks like the gaints have planned a surgical destruction for the lions.

Will there be no more thrill?

WG needs 19 more from 54 balls.#GameOfGOATs #Howzat #LegendsLeagueCricket #LLCT20 #T20Cricket #Cricket22

— Legends League Cricket (@llct20) January 26, 2022

@KP24 hasn't lost a touch… Incredible batting…#ALvsWG#LLCT20 @llct20

— Taneshan_23 (@Taneshan_23) January 26, 2022

Took a couple of steps down the track, shuffled backwards and towards off , danced a bit to enjoy the pavement of trough and slapped it over long on with immense power and sheer timing.
Wow @KP24 #LLCT20

— PSL (Pak Shalwar league) (@Abu_Shalwar) January 26, 2022

It is raining sixes on the field people!#GameOfGOATs #Howzat #LegendsLeagueCricket #LLCT20 #T20Cricket #Cricket22

— Legends League Cricket (@llct20) January 26, 2022

Kevin Pietersen @KP24 😎😎😎🔥🔥🔥#GameOfGOATs #Howzat #LegendsLeagueCricket #bosslogonkagame #LLCT20 #T20Cricket #Cricket22 @llct20

— Mrityunjoy Mazumdar 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@Mrityunjoy_offl) January 26, 2022

The umpires are impressive#LLCT20

— 𝒜𝓁𝒹𝓇𝒾𝓃 🕎🇮🇱✝ (@Aldrin10029) January 26, 2022

Now after #LLCT20 matches,
Why can't you enroll your name @KP24 in #IPL2022MegaAuction …🤔
Great Timing & Serious Hitting Man..💪@ECB_cricket definitely missed ur service very earlier..

— Sathy (@Sathy_reacts) January 26, 2022

@KP24 any chance of coming back again ? That was some Hitting … #LLCT20 #WorlDgiants pic.twitter.com/tB0gSYhe8M

— Solaiman Kabir Santo (@Santo__mcfc) January 26, 2022

@KP24 is still just the same. 🔥🔥🔥

He smacks Jayasuriya for 30 runs – 4 6 4 4 6 6#LLCT20 #LegendsLeagueCricket pic.twitter.com/GttpYZIxES

— Saif Ahmed (@saifahmed75) January 26, 2022

Kevin Pietersen just ended Sanath Jayasuriya's post-retirement career as well. 😭😭😭😭😭#KP #LegendsLeagueCricket #LegendsCricketLeague #LLCT20

— Maddy (@EvilRashford) January 26, 2022

The rest of the contribution was done well by Kevin O Brien who played a balanced knock of 31 off 24 deliveries. Sri Lanka’s ace spinner Muttiah Mularitharan picked two wickets on the day. Jayasuriya had a day to forget with the ball as he came up for an over and leaked 30 runs in it to on song Pietersen.

It is to be noted that it was only two days back that LLC authorities decided that the remaining games would be held behind closed doors due to a surge in COVID-19 cases and certain government guidelines.