Jayawardene century hands Libra Legends third consecutive defeat

Sagittarius Strikers 227-3 (Jayawardene 124) beat
Libra Legends 164-7 (Ervine 55) by 63 runs
Eighth Match, Masters Champions League, Sharjah

Mahela Jayawardene scored a blistering knock of 124 runs from 60 deliveries as Sagittarius Strikers defeated Libra Legends by 63 runs in the eighth game of the Masters Champions League in Sharjah.

Having won the toss and opted to bat first, Sagittarius Strikes got an early reprieve when Adam Gilchrist (38) was dropped in the second over off Ian Butler (0-21).

Gilchrist and Jayawardene (124) played aggressive cricket and brought up the 50-run opening stand in just 5.2 overs as the Strikers finished with 58 for naught by the end of the powerplay.

Jayawardene reached his fifty in just 28 balls as he struck six fours and two sixes in the process. In the 10th over, Gilchrist was dismissed as Nicky Boje (1-21) completed a sharp return catch.

Jayawardene continued to display a wide array of shots and struck three sixes in the next two overs. Imran Farhat (18) holed out to long on off Brad Hogg (1-33) as the Strikers reached 152 for two by the end of 15 overs.

Jayawardene continued to up the ante and reached a 54-ball century. The former Sri Lankan captain struck two more sixes to celebrate the landmark and eventually fell in the penultimate over, caught at long on off Ryan ten Doeschate (1-49).

The Strikers scored 125 runs in the last 10 overs as they ended up with 227 for three from their quota of 20 overs. Boje, Hogg and ten Doeschate were the only wicket-takers.

Chasing a stiff target of 228 runs, Libra Legends lost four wickets in the first 10 overs despite scoring positively throughout.

Michael Lumb (13) was unable to convert his start while Taufeeq Umar (3) was unable to get going. Jacques Kallis (25) played a good knock before he was run out in the seventh over.

Sean Ervine (55) received a reprieve in the eighth over and made the bowlers pay by plundering two sixes and two fours in the ninth over.

Ervine struck another six and a four but the Legends lost ten Doeschate (8) as he was stumped by Gilchrist off Daniel Vettori (2-32).

At the half-way mark, the Legends still needed 130 runs with six wickets in hand. Ervine reached his fifty with a six but fell a few moments later in the 12th over as he was caught at sweeper cover off Nathan Hauritz (1-28).

Two tight overs later, the Legends required 103 runs from 30 balls. Boje (13) and Graeme Swann (7) fell in successive overs pushing the Legends further into trouble.

The Strikers conceded just 21 runs from the last three overs to restrict the Legends to 164 for seven, thereby claiming a 63-run victory.

Shane Bond (2-11) and Vettori had two wickets each while Hauritz and Farhat (1-11) picked one apiece. Jayawardene was the man of the match for his splendid century.

© Cricket World 2016