Styris blitz hands Leo last semifinal spot

Libra Legends ended their Masters Champions League campaign on a disappointing note after Leo Lions finally came to the party to seal the last semifinal spot with a 11-run win on Sunday (February 7), thus ending the league stages at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Libra's decision of bowling first backfired big time as Hamish Marshall and Neil Carter gave them the perfect start with a 48-run opening stand, setting the tone for the innings. Marshall went on to score his half-century in the 12th over with a six as Ryan ten Doeschate made a mess of a chance to dismiss him at the boundary.

Brendan Taylor was the ideal foil to forge a half-century stand with Carter after Marshall perished for 64 off 39. That partnership set the platform for James Franklin and Scott Styris, the stand-in captain in the absence of Brian Lara, to tear apart Libras bowlers at the death.

Graeme Swann, who was taken to the cleaners in the previous games, had one of his better days at the MCL going for just 24 in his four overs accounting for Carter's wicket, while Sean Ervine had one of his worst this season. He gave away only four runs in the opening over of the inningsbut was pasted in the other three in which he gave away 54.

Taylor fell with five overs to go and 119 on the board. Styris was dropped by Andy McKay when on 16 and made the most of his reprieve racing away to a 20-ball 45 which included five sixes, two of which came in the final over.

Until the 16th over, Libra would have expected to chase a score of 150-160, but some wayward bowling and some heavy blows from Styris with an unbeaten 82-run stand helped Leo steal 76 off the last four overs; 30 came off Ervine in the last one taking them to 201 for 3 giving Leo the best chance to seal a spot in the final four, ousting Capricorn Commanders from contention.

It was a story on repeat once again for Libra where they got off to a solid startbut lost the plot thereafter with Johan Botha picking up Jacques Kallis and Michael Lumb in successive overs. Once again, Ten Doeschate waged a lone battle but Leo was well within the scope to qualify as Libra was needed to chase the set target down within 17 overs to cause an upset.

Ten Doeschate helped maintain a run rate close to eight, but much more was required in order to scale the imposing set target. He struck some massive hits, one of which landed on the roof and another soared out of the stadium and plonked the outside street. While he was at the crease, Libra still had an outside chance after he reached his half-century in just 28 balls. However, he holing out to long off for 67 off 36. His extremely entertaining knock comprised of three fours and five sixes, keeping Libra in the hunt.

Ian Butler chipped in with a handy 17-ball 31 but it wasn't enough, although Libra did well to come as close as they did. They eventually bowed out of the competition with 190 for 6 in their 20 overs reinforcing the significance of that 30-run last over, barring which a win could have been in sight.

With that, Gemini, Leo, Virgo and Sagittarius have qualified in that order for the knockouts of the MCL. The first semifinal will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday (February 11).

Brief scores: Leo Lions 201/3 in 20 overs (Hamish Marshall 64, Scott Styris 45; Graeme Swann 1-26) beat Libra Legends 190/6 in 20 overs (Ryan ten Doeschate 67, Ian Butler 31; Johan Botha 2-40) by 11 runs.