Asia Lions devoured World Giants by seven wickets in the final of the Legends League on Monday as there were no fireworks from former West Indies stars Lendl Simmons, Tino Best, and Ricardo Powell.
Choosing to bat first at the West End Park International Stadium, Giants marched to 147 for four from their 20 overs, with former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis rolling back the years with a superb unbeaten 78 from 54 deliveries.
New Zealander Ross Taylor chipped in with 32 from 33 balls but there was no joy for the 38-year-old Simmons who managed only 17.
In reply, Lions stormed to their target with 23 balls to spare, thanks to half-centuries from the Sri Lankan opening pair of Tillakaratne Dilshan (58) and Upul Tharanga (57).
Best, 41, sent down two overs for 21 runs without a wicket while Powell – used as a substitute ‘impact player’ – also went wicketless from his 2.1 overs which cost 28 runs.
Best had taken three wickets last Thursday to help Giants into the final with a 20-run win over Lions in their final group stage game.
On Monday, opener Simmons threatened only briefly, striking a four and a six in a 17-ball stay before perishing via the run-out route at the start of the sixth over, to be the first of three wickets to tumble for 19 runs.
Kallis rescued the innings in a 92-run, fourth wicket stands with Taylor, lashing five fours and three sixes.
However, Tharanga and Dilshan then put the game out of sight with an exhilarating opening stand of 115 off 60 deliveries.
The 46-year-old Dilshan struck eight fours in a 42-ball knock while Tharanga, 38, punched five fours and three sixes off 28 deliveries.
By the time three wickets went down for 20 runs in the space of 25 balls, the game was already gone.
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