Leo Lions start with victory in Masters Champions League

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Leo Lions start with victory in Masters Champions League
Johan Botha of Leo Lions plays a reverse sweep against Capricon Commanders at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Dubai - West Indies pacer Fidel Edwards shines as Capricorn Commanders suffer 26-run defeat

By James Jose

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Published: Sat 30 Jan 2016, 11:38 PM

It was a game that was almost out of their hands but with a little bit of luck as well as some good rearguard, Leo Lions got across the post in their first game of the Masters Champions League.
Having opted to go first up after captain Brian Lara called right, Leo Lions were left tottering at 83 for 6, with the sun gone into hiding on a windy and chilly Friday afternoon.
But all-rounders Johan Botha and James Franklin provided a ray of light along the horizon. After which some exceptional fielding as well as clever bowling by West Indies paceman Fidel Edwards brought about the winds of change.
All their vital contributions meant the Leo Lions got past the line by 26 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Lara sent some of the hard-hitters upfront with him slated to come in at No.5. But he walked out soon enough after the Leo Lions were left struggling at 45 for three with openers Hamish Marshall, Herschelle Gibbs and Robin Peterson already back in the dressing room.
Lara showed a faint glimpse of his old self but it turned out to be just a preview as he was caught by substitute Gareth Berg off Upul Chandana for a five-ball eight, with a lone six.
And after Brendon Taylor was gone for 24 as well as Scott Styris for nought, the Leo Lions looked like not lasting the distance.
But Franklin and Botha managed to stay put and strung together 66 runs for the seventh wicket. Botha remained unbeaten on 42 from 29 balls with three boundaries and two sixes, while Franklin made a run-a-ball 31 with one six. It was thanks to them that the Leo Lions posted a total with which they could make a fight of.
And that proved to be so despite openers Ashwell Prince and Andrew Symonds giving the Capricorn Commanders a pretty decent start. Stryis, Heath Streak and Botha removed the top three of Prince, Symonds and Chamara Silva after which Fidel Edwards polished off captain Paul Collingwood, Abdul Razzaq, Rory Kleinveldt and Rikki Clarke. Gibbs may have failed to fire with the bat but the 41-year-old belied his age by snapping up two stunning catches in the outfield as well as some brilliant stops inside the ring.


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