Gemini Arabians survive Capricorn Commanders scare to win by 10 runs

Gemini Arabians 190/4 (Sangakkara 65) beat
Capricorn Commanders 180/8 (Muralitharan 3-29) by 10 runs
Seventh match, Masters Champions League, Sharjah

Muttiah Muralitharan once again contributed with a three-wicket haul after a powerful batting performance as Gemini Arabians managed to defeat Capricorn Commanders by 10 runs in a high-scoring encounter to keep their winning streak going in the Masters Champions League.

Gemini Arabians won the toss and decided to bat first without any hesitation. Despite losing the inform Richard Levi (5) early, Virender Sehwag (59) and Kumar Sangakkara (65) took Gemini Arabians to 54 for one in powerplay.

With a couple more sixes and a boundary, Sehwag raced to his fifty off just 24 deliveries. Immediately, in the next over, he was castled by Abdul Razzaq (1-25) also ending the 55-run stand for the second wicket.

Sangakkara (65) added a quick 58 runs with Brad Hodge (29) but the latter was dismissed in the 16th over with the score reading 141 for three. 

Sangakkara continued to hammer the bowling with three sixes in two overs while bringing his fifty off 32 deliveries. Even though Sanagakkara fell, Arabians ended their innings on a high at 190 for four in the 20 overs.

Andrew Symonds (30) and Ashwell Prince (44) added 60 runs in five overs to set the chase on the fire.

After a couple of quiet overs, Gemini Arabians struck twice in successive overs with the part-time spin of Jacques Rudoplh (1-15) and Saqlain Mushtaq (1-9). Paul Collingwood's (9) poor run in the tournament continued as he was foxed by Muralitharan (3-29).

Razzaq (32) continued to raise Commanders' hopes with a couple of sixes but Arabians got four wickets in the next three overs.

With Commanders needing 22 runs off the final over, they managed only 11, handing a 10-run victory to Gemini Arabians. Sehwag bagged the man of the match award.

© Cricket World 2016