WATCH: Vintage Yusuf Pathan hitting 80 off 40 in Legends League Cricket 2022

Former India batter Yusuf Pathan powered the Indian Maharajas to a superb win in the first match of the Legends League Cricket against Asia Lions on Thursday as he played a breathtaking knock of 80 off just 40 balls to chase down a target of 176 runs.

Batting first, the Asia Lions rode on former Sri Lanka batter Upul Tharanga‘s 66 to post a challenging total of 175/7. Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq played a good 30-ball knock of 44 down the order as well. For the Maharajas, Manpreet Gony was the highest wicket-taker with three wickets to his name. Irfan Pathan bowled an economical spell and picked up two wickets as well.

The chase was already going to be a difficult one for the Maharajas and it became even more difficult when they had lost three wickets with just 34 runs on the board by the seventh over. The Lions looked in complete command but Yusuf Pathan walked in and changed the momentum of the game completely.

Here is the video of Yusuf Pathan’s knock of 80 (40) for the Indian Maharajas in Legends League Cricket 2022

He started smashing the Lions bowler straightaway and made his way to a blistering knock of 80 off just 40 balls, including nine fours and five sixes. Mohammad Kaif played the second fiddle as the duo registered a 117-run stand for the fourth wicket. 

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The Lions had a chance to make a comeback when they finally got the wicket of Yusuf in the 17th over. They still had 24 runs to defend with 19 deliveries to go. But Yusuf’s brother Irfan Pathan walked in next and played another important 10-ball cameo of 21 runs to power the Maharajas to a win, that looked unlikely at one point.