World Giants book final berth with win over Asia Lions

Fifties from Hasim Amla (66 off 59) and Jacques Kallis (56 not out of 43) followed by fine bowling spells from fast bowlers Chris Mpofu (3 for 16) and Tino Best (3 for 20) guided World Giants to a 20-run win over Asia Lions on Thursday. By virtue of the victory, World Giants booked a spot in the final. Lions will face India Maharajas in the qualifier on Saturday.

Tillakaratne Dilshan attacked the powerplay overs in the Lions' chase of 151. He didn't find much company though as Mpofu and Best derailed the top order. Dilshan struck Samit Patel for a six over backward point and followed that up with two boundaries in the fourth over. Mpofu, though, came back by rattling the stumps of Upul Tharanga in the final delivery of the fifth over.

New batter Thisara Perera hit a six to get off the mark and later greeted Best with a boundary in the next over. Best also made a quick comeback with a yorker that took an inside edge onto the stumps.

Best continued his fine spell to dismiss the dangerous Dilshan next. He bowled a full length delivery on the stumps, which caught Dilshan right in front.

Captain Shahid Afridi was the only other batter to score more than 13 as he struck three fours and one six in his 18-ball cameo. Brett Lee was hit for a four and a six by Afridi, but used a shorter change in length to dismiss Afridi in the 15th over. At 108 for 6, the game was beyond Lions as they folded for 130.

Earlier, Lions' decision to bowl worked well initially, as Giants scored only 30 runs in the powerplay. Giants lost the in-form Chris Gayle to a run-out after Amla drove a ball to mid-off. Both batters were stranded at the non-striker's end before Gayle was eventually given out.

Amla kept the scoreboard moving at a steady rate. He hit Abdur Razzaq through extra cover for four runs before driving him to the point boundary off the first two deliveries of the fifth over. Boundaries then dried up in the next five overs. The former South African pair of Amla and Kallis struggled to find the gaps against the disciplined lines of Razzaq, Sohail Tanvir and Afridi.

Amla and Kallis found some momentum in the second half of the innings as they picked up four boundaries and one six in three overs. The first six of the Giants innings came in the 13th over when Kallis hit a slower delivery from Isuru Udana over the midwicket boundary.

The rebuild continued through the final five overs. Even though Amla was dismissed by a perfect yorker from Mohammad Amir in the penultimate over, ending a 105-run third-wicket stand, he and Kallis had carried Giants to a winning total.