Disciplined bowling sees Virgo Super Kings edge out Libra Legends

Virgo Super Kings 168-5 (Smith 57) beat
Libra Legends 163-4 (Lumb 54) by five runs
Sixth match, Masters Champions League, Sharjah

Murali Kartik bowled four overs while conceding just 13 runs as Virgo Super Kings successfully defended 168 in the final over against the Libra Legends in Sharjah to register their first victory in the Masters Champions League.

The Proteas pair of Graeme Smith (57) and Neil McKenzie (26) took Virgo Super Kings to 44 in the powerplay without losing a wicket. Brad Hogg (3-12) bowled a superb sixth over where he had McKenzie castled and conceded just two runs.

Smith stepped the accelerator as he smashed three sixes off Graeme Swann (0-36) while adding 52 runs for the second wicket with Owais Shah (15). He also brought his half-century in the process off 34 deliveries.

It was once again Hogg who broke the stand having Shah stumped and later dismissing Azhar Mahmood (22) in a similar fashion to complete his three-wicket haul. In between the two wickets, Smith handed a return catch to Ryan ten Doeschate (1-16).

Cameos from Jacob Oram (18), Hasan Raza (13 not out) and James Foster (13 not out) took the Super Kings total to 168 for five in the 20 overs.

Chasing 169 for a victory, Jacques Kallis (48) and Michael Lumb (54) gave a perfect platform for the Libra Legends adding 79 runs in the first 10 overs.

However, Kartik (1-13) bowled a match-turning spell where he conceded just 11 runs in three overs while also dismissing Kallis in the process to apply the pressure on the Libra Legends as the required run rate went past 10.

With regular wickets falling around, the target for the Libra Legends was down to 33 runs from the final 12 deliveries.

Ten Doeschate (42 not out) plundered three sixes in the final two overs, but it wasn't enough for the Libra Legends as they fell short of the target by six runs.

Smith was awarded the man of the match for leading from the front with a blistering fifty.

© Cricket World 2016