Srinagar: World of Cricket on Saturday was once again reminded of spin magician Shane Warne, as India great Harbhajan Singh stunned West Indies great Chris Gayle in the Legends League Cricket with magic delivery in Doha.
The sharp spin that was generated after the ball pitched was similar kind of turn that the legendary Shane Warne generated when he sent in the “Ball of the Century” to Mike Gatting at the 1993 Old Trafford Ashes Test, or the famous delivery with which he dismissed Andrew Strauss at the extraordinary 2005 Edgbaston Test.
Unlike those two dismissals, though, Harbhajan bowled Gayle around his legs. Gayle had looked to paddle the ball around but seemed to be rather late to it as it crashed onto the leg stump.
Gayle was stunned and took a couple of seconds to process the dismissal while Harbhajan himself looked quite stunned. Wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa, meanwhile, could not control his laughter as he gave his bowler a hug.
Ross Taylor and Kevin O’Brien pushed the score to 135 for 4 in 15 overs when Mohammad Kaif produced a flying catch, diving forward to get Kevin O’Brien out for 4 off Harbhajan. Two balls later, Harbhajan trapped Ross Taylor for 1. One ball after, Harbhajan also had Morne van Wyk sweep and edge his pad to get caught by wicketkeeper Uthappa for 1.
The Giants though pulled off a thrilling two-run win over India Maharajas in the second match of the LLC Masters.