SSS VS KSO FINAL

Almost the story of the tournament for Odisha in the final. They started the tournament badly, winning just 1 out of their first 4 games, but found a way to turn things around and made it to the final. In the final too, they fought till the very end, giving it their all, but sadly, they end as runners up. The two Pathans give each a hug and they nearly had it in their basket. Nearly. But that is the nature of the game. Plenty of interviews coming up...

Let's look at Konark Suryas Odisha now. They were dead and buried. But they came back from the dead and got the match within their grasp. Yusuf Pathan was standing like the Great Wall Of China which could not be broken. But he ran out of gas in the 20th over and failed to take his team over the line. In the Super Over, he was just too tired to continue with his big hits from the run chase. A match comes to my mind - The 5th ODI between South Africa and India at Centurion in 2011. India were chasing 251 for a series win and ended up 16 short. Out of those 234 made by India, Yusuf Pathan made 105, nearly stealing the game away from the Proteas, even getting involved in a 100-run partnership for the 9th wicket with Zaheer Khan - but in vain. The next best was Parthiv Patel's 38, with no one else even reaching 15, barring Zaheer. Even here, in Srinagar, the Centurion story gets repeated, albeit the match did get dragged into a Super Over.

Looking back at the game, it can be a debate as to who actually lost the game from a winning position. Southern Super Stars had the game dead and buried and should have won comfortably. But then, they came unstuck against Yusuf Pathan who just kept hitting sixes for fun. Earlier in the first innings, the Super Stars threw away their position of strength at 145/2, with 17 balls left, to finish on a meek-looking 164. Hamilton Masakadza's 83 had got them on track to what looked like 200 at one stage, but fell considerably short.

Normally, two boundaries are enough to get a good amount of runs in a Super Over. And Martin Guptill just set the tone on the first 2 balls itself - smoking them for two sixes. He got out after that, but the damage was already done. Spare a thought for Diwesh Pathania - when he was bowling in the first innings, the ball was dry. And when he got the ball in the second innings of the Super Over, it was still dry but he could not afford a single mistake. One bad ball - dispatched. Second ball, length missed - dispatched. Game over, despite the wicket.

What a great game of cricket. Irfan Pathan looks distraught but a big shout needs to be given to his players for not giving up till the last ball. Yes, it was not a team effort but eventually, you look at the result. Maybe, they could have won it with Yusuf at the crease and 7 needed in the 20th over. But they messed it up and in the Super Over, despite scoring 13 runs, came second.

Phew. The game is done. It is not a tie. The table toppers have won the third edition of Legends League Cricket. They should have won it in the normal stage itself but they choked against Yusuf Pathan. Eventually, they got a second chance and they grabbed it.

THE TITLE HEADS SOUTH! Southern Super Stars will have their name engraved on the coveted title. Good length around middle and leg, Pawan Negi tucks this in the gap through square leg, with no intention to hit this aerially. Takes one and seal the deal with a victory that helps them clinch the title. Martin Guptill did the damage with those two lusty hits but Pawan Negi takes the most important single.

Okay, it is confirmed. If the SSS get stranded on 13, we will have a toss to decide the winner!

Good length, angling into the batter, Chirag Gandhi prevails some sense and gently tucks this away to the non-throwing arm of Irfan Pathan at mid-wicket and sneaks one. Scores are level. A brilliant move to send Chirag Gandhi ahead of other dashers as he takes the risk-taking factor out of the equation.

Chirag Gandhi walks out at number 3, replacing Martin Guptill.

OUT! BOWLED! Killer blow in terms of a comeback by the bowler. Remember, you need only two wickets in a Super Over. So it is game on. A length ball, outside off, Martin Guptill looks to steer it through the off side, but the ball pitches, skids through, comes in with the angle, goes past the bat and knocks the off stump out of the ground! Southern Super Stars are 12/1 and need 2 runs still to win, from 3 balls!

OUT! BOWLED! Killer blow in terms of a comeback by the bowler. Remember, you need only two wickets in a Super Over. So it is game on. A length ball, outside off, Martin Guptill looks to steer it through the off side, but the ball pitches, skids through, comes in with the angle, goes past the bat and knocks the off stump out of the ground! Southern Super Stars are 12/1 and need 2 runs still to win, from 3 balls!

SIX! Two in two! Diwesh Pathania misses his length by just a fraction, bowling a wide half volley outside off. Guptill reaches out and carves it over cover! 2 needed in 4 balls now.

SIX! BLUDGEONED! The first ball comes out as a gentle full toss and Guptill is anything but gentle on it. Gets down on a knee and slog sweeps the ball massively over mid-wicket, almost sending it to Auckland! 8 needed from 5 balls now.

We are finally ready for the final chase in this tournament. Martin Guptill walks out to open for Southern Super Stars and his partner is Pawan Negi. Perhaps Masakadza is slotted at 3. And Irfan Pathan is going towards Diwesh Pathania to bowl the final over in this final. Guptill on strike. 6 balls, 14 to win. Here we go for one final time!!!

... THE CHASE IN THE SUPER OVER ...

Irfan Pathan is discussing with the umpires, probably clarifying what will happen if this Super Over is tied. We are not sure what will happen but we are certainly sure that there won't be another Super Over. Who will open for the Super Stars? Guptill and Negi? Or Guptill and Masakadza? Who will bowl for the Suryas? A seamer or a spinner?

Well bowled by Southern Super Stars again, for a majority of the Super Over. One bad ball from Hamid Hassan and that got dispatched over cover while the last ball, despite being a good one, found the fence. If any, Odisha might be criticial of not running the single on that no ball but at this point in time, they will take the 13 runs on the board. Remember, these are runs in the final.

How crucial were those two balls for Odisha? And how critical did that no ball become for the Super Stars? The extra ball has cost them a boundary towards the end. They bowled 7 balls and conceded just 3 in 5 balls, but in the remaining 2, they conceded 10. Anything over 10 in a Super Over is definitely defendable but once again, we feel that we could be in line for another tie. Could we?