Essex stars Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate were triumphant with Balkh Legends yesterday, as their side became the first champions of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) T20, beating Kabul Zwanan by four wickets at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Kabul Zwanan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and elected to bat first, but lost both Luke Ronchi and Hazratullah Zazai inside the opening five overs. Bopara then took the important wicket of South-African Colin Ingram and Kabul went on to make 132 for 9 after the 20 overs.
Chasing 133, Legends lost both Colin Munro and Darwish Rasooli to Wayne Parnell in the opening over, but Chris Gayle smashed 56 runs from 34 balls to steady the ship, accompanied by ten Doeschate and Bopara.
Essex skipper ten Doeschate contributed 12 in a partnership of 31 with Gayle whilst Bopara and the West-Indian combined for 50 before Gayle was out to Rashid Khan.
It was too late though as Bopara ensured that the Legends reached their target of 133 with 11 balls to spare, finishing on 32 not out.
