Last Update: January 22, 2023, 11:15 AM IST
Dwayne Bravo celebrates MI Emirates’ win in ILT20.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders posted a strong score of 170 for seven thanks to Dhananjay de Silva’s brilliant innings of 65 runs in 40 balls. In reply, MI Emirates were upset when they needed 20 runs in the last over.
Abu Dhabi: MI Emirates maintain their winning streak in DP World International League T20 after taking a thrilling five-wicket haul over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders posted a strong score of 170 for seven thanks to Dhananjay de Silva’s brilliant innings of 65 runs in 40 balls. In reply, MI Emirates were upset when they needed 20 runs in the last over. However, Dwayne Bravo and Najibullah Zadran batted smartly and took their team past the boundary.
MI Emirates lost Muhammad Wasim early in the innings for two runs off seven balls, but Andre Fletcher hit three fours off Lahiru Kumara in the fourth over to keep them in the game. Pooran and Fletcher put on a crucial 55-run stand and MI kept the Emirates chase going until Pooran fell to Russell in the eleventh over after scoring 20 off 13 balls.
MI Emirates’ chase was further derailed when Lahiru Kumara got Andre Fletcher lbw for 53 off 43 balls. Pollard hit two fours off Akil Hossain, but at the end of the seventeenth over, MI Emirates were still 129 for four in the game.
When Pollard departed for 31 off 23 balls in the 19th over, it seemed that Abu Dhabi Knight Riders had sealed the deal, however, Dwayne Bravo and Najibullah Zadran had other ideas. He gave his team a thrilling victory by hitting Russell for three sixes and a four in the final.
Dhananjaya de Silva’s special innings
Trent Boult got the opening wicket for MI Emirates after dismissing Keanor Lewis for a duck in the very first over itself. However, Dhananjay de Silva set the tone for the Knight Riders as he hit four boundaries off Fazalhaq Farooqui in the fourth over. But at the other end, Dhananjay kept losing partners and Brandon King fell to Zahoor Khan for six off 13 balls in the fifth over and Raymon Reifer was run out in eight overs, leaving the Abu Dhabi side at 48 for three. Run done.
Charith Aslanka provided the much-needed support to Dhananjay as he smashed Imran Tahir for two sixes in the eleventh over and Kieron Pollard for a four in the twelfth over. When it looked like Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ innings was about to move to another level, Pollard dismissed Aslanka for 23 off 17 balls to end the 45-run partnership between Dhananjay and Aslanka.
Andre Russell came in and hit Zahoor Khan for a six and a four, but his stay at the crease was short-lived as Fazalhaq Farooqui dispatched him for 13 off eight balls. Dhananjay stood strong towards the end, but he too was on his way back when he was dismissed for 65 off 40 balls by Zahoor Khan. Thereafter, captain Sunil Narine scored a crucial 28* off 18 balls, which included a six and a four off Zahoor Khan in the final over, helping his side reach a competitive 170 for seven.
Talking about the thrilling match, MI Emirates’ Andre Fletcher said, “It was an intense match. I told Pooran in the dugout that if we needed 20 runs in the last over, we would win. This performance showed the depth in our batting.” It is good to be on the winning side and we have to keep the momentum going.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ Dhananjay de Silva said, “Losing matches in a row is difficult. We could have scored a few more runs in the latter part of our innings. It was a good wicket to bat on and 185-190 is our target.” Would have been an ideal score to defend.”
Brief scores: MI Emirates 176 for five in 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 53, Najibullah Zadran 35*, Lahiru Kumara 2 for 34), Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 170 for seven in 20 overs (Dhananjay de Silva 65, Sunil Narine 28) *, Fazalhaq) Farooqui 2 runs for 27 runs)
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)