Sangakkara, Levi inspire Gemini Arabians to massive victory in MCL opener

Gemini Arabians 234-3 (Sangakkara 86) beat
Libra Legends 156-8 (ten Doeschate 53) by 78 runs
First match, Masters Champions League, Dubai

Sizzling half-centuries from Kumar Sangakkara and Richard Levi followed by a cameo from Brad Hodge overpowered Libra Legends ensuring a 78-run victory for Gemini Arabians in the opening game of the Masters Champions League in Dubai.

Virender Sehwag (21) started the innings with a six to deep fine leg off the very first delivery from Andy Mckay (0-56).

He, along with his opening partner Richard Levi (62), smashed three boundaries and two sixes in the first three overs to take Gemini Arabians to 41 for naught.

Ian Butler (1-52) broke the 54-run opening stand when he had Sehwag caught at deep square leg.

Ryan ten Doeschate (1-44) bowled a maiden in the sixth over as Gemini Arabians reached 54 for one in the powerplay.

Kumar Sangakkara (86) joined Levi as the duo added 84 runs for the second wicket capitalising on some poor fielding from the Libra Legends.

Levi brought up his fifty off 38 deliveries in the 12th over which was followed by successive boundaries from Sangakkara to take the Arabians to 108 for one.

With a 24-run 13th over from Butler, Gemini Arabians reached 132 for one but Levi was finally foxed by Brad Hogg (1-25) in the next over.

Sangakkara completed his fifty off 32 deliveries as he smashed Mckay for two sixes and a four off successive deliveries in the 15th over.

A 19-ball cameo from Brad Hodge (46 not out) ensured Gemini Arabians ended their innings at a massive total of 234 for three in the 20 overs.

The 44-year-old Hogg was the pick of the Legends bowlers as he picked up a wicket while conceding just 25 runs from his allotted four overs.

Even though Jacques Kallis (14) started the chase with three boundaries, Libra Legends were pegged back by Kyle Mills (2-27) and Muttiah Muralitharan (2-27) in the powerplay where they managed to score 46 but lost four wickets.

Sean Ervine (22) and ten Doeschate (53) tried to bring the innings on track with a 59-run stand for the fifth wicket which came in 35 deliveries but the required run rate climbed to 16 after 11 overs.

The pressure eventually got the better of Ervine who was castled by Muralitharan. 

Ten Doeschate waged a lone battle, reaching his half-century off 31 deliveries, but could not prevent the Libra Legends from losing the game by 78 runs.

Mills, Muralitharan and Naved-ul-Hasan took two wickets each for Gemini Arabians.

© Cricket World 2016