Sehwag fiery ton lights up Arabians' win

Sharjah - So dominant was his batting that even Kumar Sangakkara's 51 from 33 balls failed in comparison as Gemini posted 224 for 7.

Virender Sehwag breathed new life into the Oxigen Masters Champions League with the former India opener scoring a blitzkrieg 134 - the highest of the tournament so far - in the T20 tournament being held for retired cricketers.
The tournament which has been ridiculed for failing to rope in the crowds finally had a decent number of spectators at the turnstiles of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. And, those who turned up surely got their money's worth with Sehwag producing an electrifying innings, a knock which only the Nawab of Najafgarh is capable of, to guide the unbeaten Gemini Arabians to a 12-run win over second-placed Sagittarius Strikers.
So dominant was his batting that even Kumar Sangakkara's 51 from 33 balls failed in comparison as Gemini posted 224 for 7. Sagittarius' Krishmar Santokie became the first bowler in the tournament to grab five wickets (5 for 30), including a hat trick, but in a losing cause after Sagittarius Strikers managed 212.
Gemini thus became the first team to qualify for the semifinals which takes place in Dubai from February 11. Sagittarius, however, can take heart from the fight they put up despite losing Adam Gilchrist (0) and Mahela Jayawardene (20) early in their chase. Former Pakistan internationals Imran Farhat (51), Yasir Hameed (41) and Yasir Arafat (32) kept Strikers within striking distance, but the wily old fox Muttiah Muralitharan and Saqlain Mushtaq struck some crucial blows to stem the runs.
Just when Gemini dropped their guard, Santokie and Shane Bond started to clear the fence with some big hits and brought the match back to life only to run out of balls in the end.
Sehwag said at the post-match conference that it was a good T20 game. Rightly so, and it belonged to him all the way. This is not to undermine Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene's century (124) on Thursday. But, while Jayawardene was all class and craft, Sehwag's was brute force. He played courageously, facing only 63 balls for his 134 which was peppered with 11 sixes and 10 fours.
Sehwag and Sangakkara's second-wicket partnership of 135 runs from 67 balls was the turning point as it literally took away the match from the Strikers. Though the rest of the batsmen failed to capitalise on that start with five wickets falling for three runs, Gemini still had enough in the tank.
And when Adam Gilchrist (0) and Mahela Jayawardene (20) were back in the pavilion it was all over for the Strikers. Imran Farhat (51) and Yasir Hameed (41) threatened Gemini with a 74-run partnership but again once these two batsmen were out - Farhat falling to a brilliant catch by Justin Kemp in the deep - the curtain came down on their innings.
Sehwag was happy that his hundred helped the team win. "I'm very happy that I scored a hundred, the team won and qualified for the semifinals."

• Masters Champions League