Gemini Arabians sign off with a win

Sharjah: The Gemini Arabians secured a comfortable 23-run win against the Virgo Super Kings to become the lone team with an all-win record and make the semi-finals of the inaugural edition of the Masters Champions League (MCL) on Saturday.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, the Gemini Arabians notched up a modest 144 for five in their allotted 20 overs and then restricted the Virgo Super Kings to 122 for 5.

Batting first, but without skipper Sehwag, it was Kumar Sangakkara who was once again the mainstay for the Arabians with a 34-ball 51 runs. Former UAE player Saqib Ali made full use of the opportunity in the absence of key players, playing the perfect foil with an unbeaten 46 off 41 balls.

Sangakkara, who is scheduled to join the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) at this same venue later this week, struck seven boundaries and a lone six in his 34-ball stay at the wicket. The 37-year-old Saqib, whose last T20 match for the UAE was in November 2013, showed no signs of his absence from top-level cricket as he hit two fours and as many sixes in his 41 balls in the middle.

Malinga Bandara and Jacob Oram were effective during the mid-overs restricting the Arabians’ otherwise rampant run flow while picking up two wickets apiece.

“We can take a lot of positives from this match. Firstly, we topped the group and the few players who got an opportunity stepped up well. This shows the depth of our group,” Kyle Mills later told media.

“In our past games we have been quite destructive in our batting, and today the rest of us had to show up. I thought we were probably 20 to 30 runs short, and that meant we had to bowl really well, and we did that part superbly in the end,” he added.

The Virgo Super Kings, who still have a chance of making it to the knock-out stages with Sunday’s final against the Capricorn Commanders, never seemed to be in the hunt right from the loss of skipper Graeme Smith in the second ball of the chase.

However, Neil McKenzie held up things in the middle with 46 runs off 42 deliveries, but lacked support except for Hasan Raza who came up with 28 runs from 26 deliveries. And with the injured Paul Harris and Graham Onions giving nothing away with their stingy spells, the Super Kings eventually finished at 122 for 5 in 20 overs.

Sunday is the final day of preliminary round matches after which the teams will take a well-deserved three-day break till the start of the semi-finals on Thursday.

Brief Scores: Gemini Arabians def. Virgo Super Kings by 22 runs: Gemini Arabians 144 for 5 in 20 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 51 (34), Saqib Ali 46 not out (41); Malinga Bandara 2 for 26, Jacob Oram 2 for 27. Virgo Super Kings 122 for 5 in 20 overs (Neil McKenzie 46 (42), Hasan Raza 28 (26); Kyle Mills 2 for 40, Paul Harris 1 for 9, Naved-Ul-Hasan 1 for 27). Man of the Match: Kumar Sangakkara (Gemini Arabians).

SUNDAY’S MATCHES: (3 pm) Virgo Super Kings vs Capricorn Commanders; (7.30 pm) Libra Legends vs Leo Lions.