DOHA, Qatar, CMC – Both Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons sparkled only briefly but their efforts were not enough to prevent World Giants suffering a 35-run defeat to Asia Lions in Monday’s third game of the Legends League.
In a rain-hit contest reduced to 10 over per side, Giants failed to overhaul a target of 100 for victory, finishing on 64 for five at West End Park International Stadium.
The iconic Gayle lashed three sixes in a 16-ball 23, posting 40 off 27 balls for the first wicket with former West Indies teammate Lendl Simmons who blasted two sixes in scoring 14 from 12 balls.
Their dismissals, however, signalled the end of Giants’ threat as Pakistanis Abdur Razzak (2-2) and Shahid Afridi (2-11) hurt the innings.
Afridi accounted for both the former West Indies stars in the fifth over – the 43-year-old Gayle holing out to long on and Simmons, 38, also falling to a catch in the deep.
Earlier, former Pakistan batting star Misbah-ul-Haq struck a 19-ball unbeaten 44 with four fours and three sixes to revive Lions from 39 for three in the sixth over after they were sent in, following a delayed start.
He put on 60 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand with Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan who made 32 not out from 24 deliveries.
On Saturday, Gayle failed with four, Tino Best got 13 not out and Ricardo Powell snatched two for 16 as a replacement player, as Giants beat India Maharajas by two runs in a tight contest at the same venue here.
The three-team tournament bowled off last Friday and runs until March 20.
