SURAT, India, CMC – Former West Indies batsman Chadwick Walton once again turned in a handy performance as Manipal Tigers chased down a problematic total to beat Dwayne Smith’s Urbanrisers Hyderabad by five wickets in the final of the Legends Cricket League.
Tasked with overhauling 188 at Lalbhai Contractor Stadium on Saturday, Tigers completed a clinical chase to reach their target with an over to spare, Sri Lankan Asela Gunaratne hitting an unbeaten 51 from 29 balls and opener Robin Uthappa getting 47 from 29 deliveries.
Another Sri Lankan, Angelo Perera, gathered 30 from 23 deliveries, while Walton chimed in with a significant 29 off just 17 balls at the top of the order.
Earlier, half-centuries from Englishman Rikki Clarke (80 not out) and India’s Gurkeerat Singh Mann (64) powered Hyderabad to a competitive 187 for five off their 20 overs after being sent in.
The innings were stuttering at 36 for two at the end of the sixth over after former West Indies batsman Smith perished for 21 off 20 balls, but Clarke and Gurkeerat put on 122 for the third wicket to repair the damage.
Clarke blasted a half-dozen fours and four sixes in a 52-ball knock, while Gurkeerat faced 36 deliveries and struck eight fours and two sixes.
In reply, Walton had a firm hand in a 71-run opening standoff 43 balls with Uthappa, the 38-year-old Jamaican punching four fours and one six in a fine cameo.
However, both fell within three balls in the eighth over and when Amit Verma fell cheaply for eight in the next over, the Tigers were struggling somewhat on 80 for three.
Gunaratne bludgeoned five sixes, putting on 56 for the fourth with Perera and a 51 for the fourth with fellow countryman Thisara Perera (25), as Tigers staged an excellent recovery.
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