Sharjah: The last two semi-final spots were filled up by Leo Lions and the Sagittarius Strikers at the end of the preliminary round matches of the inaugural Masters Champions League (MCL) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here late on Sunday.
After Gemini Arabians had booked their place in the last four with an all-win record from five matches earlier in the week, there were four teams in the running for the remaining three spots going into the final day.
The Virgo Super Kings were the first to move earlier in the day with a 12-run win over the Capricorn Commanders in a low-scoring match, while the Leo Lions made it through with a comfortable 11-run victory against the winless bottom-placed Libra Legends.
Virgo Kings and Leo Lions took their tally up to six points with three points each while the Sagittarius Strikers also made it with a better net run-rate and despite having four points to their credit along with the Capricorn Commanders.
The Libra Legends, led by Jacques Kallis, had to make an early departure having failed to win a single match from the five they played in this competition. “I think the 30-run over at the end helped us put up a big score. It is very pleasing to put up such a performance. We got off to a good start from Neil (Carter) and Hamish (Marshall) and we could then play freely,” Leo Lions skipper Scott Styris said.
Their semi-final against the Virgo Super Kings will be an engrossing battle as the Leo Lions had lost to them in the preliminary round. “Much of that depends on what the wicket is like in Dubai. We should have beaten them the last time,” Styris said.
“We have to play well as they have three good spinners. It doesn’t matter how we have so far as it is the knockouts that matter,” he added.
The MCL will now take a well-deserved three-day break till the first semi-final between table toppers Gemini Arabians led by the irrepressible Virender Sehwag and fourth-placed Sagittarius Strikers from 7.30 pm on Thursday (February 11).
