Bhubaneswar: Yusuf Pathan almost pulled off the impossible, but it was not to be as debutants Konark Suryas Odisha (KSO) finished second best to Southern Super Stars (SSS) in the final of Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2024.
It needed a Super Over to identify the champions as both teams scored 164 in 20 overs. In the Super Over, Martin Guptill’s 2 sixes off the first two balls helped SSS surpass KSO’s tally of 13 runs.
SSS were thus crowned champions after a pulsating final full of twists and turns, and some breathtaking strokeplay which thoroughly entertained the big crowd at Bakshi Stadium on Sunday night.
Looking dead and buried at the halfway stage while chasing a daunting target of 165 against red-hot Southern Super Stars, Konark Suryas rode Yusuf’s brilliant power-hitting to force a tie and a Super Over.
Yusuf plundered 24 (2 sixes, 3 fours) in the 16th over bowled by Suboth Bhati and 28 (4 sixes, 1 four) in the 19th over off Pawan Negi to bring the equation down to just 7 runs off the final over.
However, with 2 needed of the last ball, Yusuf was run out going for a second run.
While Yusuf made 85 off 38 balls (6×4, 8×6), the next best score was Kevin O’Brien’s 17.
Southern Super Stars, who had got the better of KSO in both their meetings earlier in the tournament, had Hamilton Masakadza to thank for piling up 164/6 after being asked to bat first.
The Zimbabwean right-hander smashed 85 off 58 balls, with the help of 8 fours and 5 sixes. He had some support from Negi (33) and Martin Guptill (27), but KSO bowlers did very well to conceded just 32 runs in the last 5 overs.
Dilshan Munaweera bowled a dream final over, bagging three wickets while giving away just a single run.
BRIEF SCORES
Southern Super Stars 164/6 in 20 overs (Hamilton Masakadza 58, Pawan Negi 33; Dilshan Munaweera 4/9).
Konark Suryas Odisha 164/9 in 20 overs (Yusuf Pathan 85; Chaturanga de Silva 2/18, Hamid Hassan 2/28).
SUPER OVER
Konark Suryas Odisha 13/1
Southern Super Stars 14/1.
Result: SSS won in Super Over.
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