Former South Africa spinner Imran Tahir turned out
to be an unlikely saviour of the World Giants in the Legends League Cricket
(LLC) at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat, Oman. Tahir, who is known for
his spin bowling and pumping the fist in the air celebration rather than batting, smashed five
sixes and three boundaries on his way to a 19-ball 52 as the World Giants
chased down a mammoth target despite a middle-order collapse to beat India
Maharajas by three wickets.

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In the 18th over of World Giants’ innings, Tahir hit
three sixes off the bowling of Manpreet Goni, before hitting Naman Ojha for two
sixes in the final over of the match.

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Asked to bat first, the India Maharajas got off to
the worst possible start as they lost the wickets to Wasim Jaffer and S
Badrinath. Both batters failed to impress.

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However, Naman Ojha helped the Maharajas to set a
massive target, scoring 140 off 69 balls, including 15 boundaries and nine
sixes. Ojha and captain Mohammad Kaif (53) added 187 runs for the third wickets
as the side managed to post a total of 209 for three in 20 overs.

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In response, the World Giants got off to a flying
start with Kevin Pietersen scoring a fine fifty at the top of the order.
However, Pietersen’s dismissal in the ninth over derailed World Giants’ chase
as the Maharajas took wickets in regular intervals, reducing the Giants to 101
for five.

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But Tahir turned the tables with his knock of 52 as
the Giants chased down the target with three wickets and as many balls to
spare.

The Legends League Cricket is a three-team
tournament, featuring the India Maharajas, the Asian Lions and the World
Giants. The 20-over competition for former superstars is being played from
January 20 to 29.