In a thrilling finale of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2024, Southern Super Stars (SSS) edged past Konark Suryas Odisha (KSO) in a dramatic Super Over finish at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium. After both teams ended their innings tied at 164, the match went into a Super Over, where SSS held their nerve to clinch the title.

Southern Super Stars innings

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Konark Suryas Odisha got off to a great start with Diwesh Pathania dismissing opener Shreevats Goswami for a duck. However, Hamilton Masakadza anchored the innings with a brilliant 83 off 58 balls, hitting 8 fours and 5 sixes, taking charge after the early loss of Martin Guptill (27 off 25). Masakadza formed a crucial partnership with Pawan Negi (33 off 24), pushing the total to a competitive 164/6.

Dilshan Munaweera was the standout bowler for KSO, taking 4 wickets for just 9 runs in his 3 overs, including the crucial scalps of Masakadza and Chirag Gandhi. Despite Munaweera’s efforts, KSO couldn’t completely restrict the SSS middle order, allowing them to post a formidable total.

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Konark Suryas Odisha innings

In reply, KSO had a shaky start, losing Richard Levi (16 off 11) and Dilshan Munaweera (11 off 9) early. Kevin O’Brien (17 off 24) and Irfan Pathan (3 off 5) couldn’t build momentum as SSS bowlers kept a tight grip. However, Yusuf Pathan turned the game around with a blistering knock of 85 off just 38 balls, smashing 6 fours and 8 sixes. His powerful innings kept KSO in the hunt, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

Hamid Hassan (2/28) and Chaturanga de Silva (2/19) were instrumental in picking up crucial wickets, while Pawan Negi (2/32) and Abdul Razzak (2/31) also made key contributions. Despite Yusuf Pathan’s heroics, KSO finished at 164/9, forcing the game into a Super Over.

Super Over drama

In the Super Over, Southern Super Stars’ pacer Hamid Hassan bowled against the Pathan brother. Yusuf managed to hit a six but was trapped LBW on the fifth ball. Richard Levi came in and struck a boundary off the last delivery, setting a target of 14 runs for the Super Stars.

During the chase, Martin Guptill and Pawan Negi opened for the Super Stars. Dinesh Pathania, bowling the Super Over for Odisha, was hammered for two sixes off the first two balls by Guptill. Pathania bounced back by dismissing Guptill, but Chirag Gandhi and Negi comfortably scored the remaining two runs, securing the 2024 LLC title for the Southern Super Stars.

Hamilton Masakadza was named Player of the Match for his quickfire 83 that laid the foundation for SSS’s victory.

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