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In a thrilling opening game of Legends League Cricket 2024, Manipal Tigers skipper Harbhajan Singh outwitted Irfan Pathan, the captain of Konark Suryas Odisha, with a brilliant delivery, leading his side to a commanding position. The match at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur on Friday, September 20, saw Harbhajan Singh’s crafty bowling unsettle the opposition.
The critical moment occurred during the 12th over when Harbhajan, bowling around the wicket, delivered a length ball targeting the stumps. The ball stayed low, catching Irfan Pathan off guard as he played on the back foot. The ball slipped under Irfan’s bat and rattled the stumps, sending him back to the pavilion after scoring 18 runs off 23 balls, including two boundaries. At the time of his dismissal, Odisha was struggling at 54/5.
[Watch] Harbhajan Singh’s Magic Delivery Sends Irfan Pathan Packing in LLC 2024 Opener
Manipal Tigers had earlier won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that paid off handsomely. Konark Suryas Odisha faced an early collapse, with Ambati Rayudu managing only eight runs before being dismissed by Anureet Singh. Soon after, Richard Levi (6) and Kevin O’Brien (6) fell cheaply, leaving Odisha in deep trouble during the powerplay.
Ross Taylor also had a difficult time, scoring 14 off 28 balls, while Yusuf Pathan managed only three runs off eight deliveries. A late surge from Navin Stewart (17 off 12 balls) and Vinay Kumar (11* off 5 balls) provided some stability, but Konark Suryas Odisha could only muster 104/9 in their 20 overs.
Harbhajan Singh’s sharp bowling performance, combined with a disciplined attack by the Tigers, put Manipal in a strong position as they set out to chase the modest target.
