Bhubaneswar: Konark Suryas Odisha (KSO) will face off against Southern Superstars in the final of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) at the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar on 16th October.
In a nail-biting match at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar on Monday, Konark Suryas edged out Toyam Hyderabad by just one run and conformed their final bout, The intense contest showcased the determination and skill of both teams, but it was Konark Suryas who ultimately emerged victorious.
After losing the toss and put into bat first, Richard Levi and Dilshan Munaweera opened the innings for Konark Suryas Odisha. They faced an early setback when Levi was dismissed for 6 from 9 balls at the score of 20 on the board. Munaweera scored 18 from 18 balls. Yusuf Pathan made 12 from 4 balls. Kevin O’Brien along with skipper Irfan Pathan anchored the innings as they both added 79 runs for the fifth wicket. Kevin completed his half century as he made 50 from 39 balls. Irfan remained unbeaten on 49* from 35 balls. At the end of the innings, they posted a score of 156/5 in 20 overs.
For Toyam Hyderabad, Stuart Binny was the pick of the bowlers who took 2/19 in 4 overs. Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana and Monty Panesar took one wicket each in the innings.
Toyam Hyderabad faced a target of 157 runs. Opening the innings, Chadwick Walton and George Worker got off to a cautious start, with Walton scoring 10 runs off 13 balls and Worker adding 8 from 10. Peter Trego contributed 15 from 12 balls, but it was Rikki Clarke who stole the show with a fantastic 67 runs off just 44 deliveries. Captain Guekeerat Singh Mann held firm at the crease, finishing unbeaten on 27 from 25 balls, while Samiullah Shinwari chipped in with a quick 11 runs off 7 balls. With 12 runs needed off the final over, Irfan Pathan showcased his skill by conceding only 10 runs, securing the victory for his team as Toyam Hyderabad ended their innings at 155/6.
On the bowling front for Konark Suryas Odisha, several players made key contributions. Diwesh Pathania (1/30), Vinay Kumar (1/15), Ben Laughlin (1/24), Shahbaz Nadeem (1/21), KP Appanna (1/39), and Irfan Pathan (1/10) each claimed a wicket, demonstrating a well-rounded effort.
