MCL 11th Match Review: Paul Collingwood knocks off Libra Legends

Paul Collingwood along with Andrew Symonds faced no trouble in mowing down the humble target of 155 runs set by Libra Legends batting first. Collingwood smashed an unbeaten 39 balls 62 runs knock while Symonds was also at his aggressive best and hit a fluent 62 runs off just 44 balls to guide their team to an effortless victory.

Coming into the chase, the start was pretty modest for the Commanders. Ashwell Prince departed after a brief opening partnership off just 25 runs while Rizwan Cheema also disappointed by getting out lowly.

This early fall of wickets brought today’s match-winning duo Paul Collingwood and Andrew Symonds in the middle who quickly took the aggressive avatar and hit the Legends freely. The duo began slowly and ticked single to get settled but looked completely unstoppable once their eyes were set. After a few silent overs, it was Collingwood who turned on the aggression and remained the aggressor till the end but Symonds was also no spectator in the middle and also hit his share of big hits. The pair remained unbeaten and did their job effectively by stitching a 110 runs partnership. With the help of this stand, the Commanders chased the down the target in just 16.2 overs with 8 wickets to spare.

Earlier, Legends opted to bat first after winning the toss and had a thumping start.  Both their openers, Jacques Kallis (54 from 42 balls) and Michael Lumb (52 from 36 balls) struck half centuries to give the perfect headstart to the innings. However, the Commanders spinners soon found quick breakthroughs and brought themselves back in the match. Leggie Chandana was the first to strike after he broke the flourishing opening stand with the wicket of Michael Lumb. Later, Jeetan Patel (3/29) produced a match turning spell to push the Legends on the back foot. Patel struck twice in the 12th overs after he removed Ryan ten Doeschate and Sean Ervine in the space of three deliveries and then removed Kallis at a crucial stage in the 16th over.

The middle overs very unfruitful for the batting side which resulted in them losing the opportunity to post a big total which was at one stage looking like a complete possibility. The slump became worse and the runs dried gradually. And, eventually, the Legends could only manage to put up 154/7 playing out the 20 overs.

Brief Scores:

Libra Legends 154/7 in 20 overs (Kallis 54; Patel 3/29)

Capricorn Commanders 155/2 in 16.2 overs (Collingwood 62; Ervine 1/17)

Man of the Match: Paul Collingwood (Capricorn Commanders)