JODHPUR, India, CMC – Former West Indies off-spinner Ashley Nurse lashed a thrilling unbeaten half-century as India Capitals staged a daring run chase to beat Bhilwara Kings by four wickets in the Legends League here yesterday.
Set a massive target of 227 at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium, Capitals overhauled their target with three balls to spare with Nurse finishing unbeaten on 60 from just 28 deliveries.
The 33-year-old struck five fours and four sixes and more importantly, inspired an unbroken, 52-run seventh wicket stand with Englishman Liam Plunkett (22 not out) which rallied the innings at the back end.
New Zealander Ross Taylor had earlier set the foundation for the chase, top-scoring with 84 from 39 deliveries, including nine fours and five sixes.
Capitals slipped to 48 for three in the sixth over when all-rounder Dwayne Smith drove a return catch to former West Indies teammate Fidel Edwards (2-54) but Taylor revived the chase in a 62-run, fourth wicket partnership with former West Indies Test captain Denesh Ramdin (13).
Taylor added another 58 for the fifth wicket with Nurse who then took responsibility for finishing the game once his partner perished in the 16th over.
Choosing to bat first, Kings gathered an imposing 226 for five from their 20 overs with Australian Shane Watson (65) and Ireland’s William Porterfield (59) hammering half-centuries and Yusuf Pathan chipping in with 48 from 24 balls.
Watson lashed 10 fours and two sixes in a 39 -ball knock while Porterfield punched seven fours and three sixes off 37 balls, the pair posting 116 for the second wicket.
When both fell to leave Kings on 153 for three in the 16th over, Pathan belted three fours and four sixes in a hasty 55-run, fourth wicket partnership with Rajesh Bishnoi who blasted an 11-ball 36 not out, including five fours and two sixes.
