SURAT, India, CMC – Former West Indies batsman Chadwick Walton played a small role as Manipal Tigers produced a stellar run chase to beat India Capitals by six wickets and reach Saturday’s final of the Legends Cricket League.
Tasked with overhauling a tricky 178 at Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Tigers reached their target with eight balls to spare, with Sri Lankan Asela Gunaratne top-scoring with an unbeaten 39 from 25 balls, New Zealander Colin de Grandhomme hitting 38 not out off 24 balls and another Sri Lankan Angelo Perera chipping in with 35 from 27 balls.
Walton, 38, belted an 18-ball 33 with five fours and a six, helping to inspire a 48-run opening partnership with Mohammad Kaif (13).
Perera then put on 31 for the third wicket with Amit Verma (8) and 41 for the fourth with Gunaratne, who combined in a match-winning unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 57 with de Grandhomme.
Fast bowler Fidel Edwards finished with a single wicket from three expensive overs, which leaked 38 runs. In comparison, former Barbados and West Indies counterpart Ashley Nurse went wicket-less from four costly overs of off-spin, giving up 48 runs.
Earlier, former West Indies Test vice-captain Kirk Edwards made 24 at the top of the order, but Ricardo Powell (3) and Nurse (6) failed as Capitals rallied to 177 for nine from their 20 overs after being sent in.
Former England star Kevin Pietersen scored 56 from 27 balls, helping to post 69 for the fifth wicket with Australian Ben Dunk (28).
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