DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Legendary former West Indies batsman Brian Lara suffered the indignity of a first ball ‘duck’ as his Leo Lions slumped to an eight-wicket defeat to Gemini Arabians in the inaugural Masters Champions League here yesterday.
Choosing to bat first at the Dubai International Stadium, Lions were held to 132 for seven off their 20 overs with James Franklyn top-scoring with 35 from 37 deliveries and fellow New Zealander Scott Styris scoring 32 from 31 deliveries.
The pair put on 57 for the sixth wicket to pull Lions out of trouble at 57 for five in the ninth over.
Batting at number five, Lara perished in the seventh over.
Facing up to his old nemesis off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Lara was squared up first ball and edged to slip for Virender Sehwag to snag an easy catch at 50 for four.
Muralitharan finished with four for 14 from his four overs.
In reply, Australian Brad Hodge stroked 65 not out off 43 balls while Sri Lankan stroke-maker Kumar Sangakkara carved out an unbeaten run-a-ball 41, to guide Arabians to victory with two overs to spare.
Arabians were struggling at 28 for two in the sixth over when the pair came together in an unbroken stand of 105, to effectively end the game as a contest.
Former West Indies and Barbados fast bowler Fidel Edwards was ineffective, going wicket-less in three overs which cost 29 runs.
In the other game played at the venue yesterday, West Indies and Barbados fast bowler Tino Best sent down a single over which cost ten runs as his Sagittarius Strikers lost by three runs to Capricorn Commanders.
