The Dubai Capitals defeated the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 83 runs, their second-largest victory in the tournament’s history, thanks to one of the season’s best performances by Rovman Powell, an undefeated 96 off 52 balls.
Rovman Powell shines with the bat. @ILT20
Early stutters at 43/3 were erased through a superb 119-run stand between Powell and Jordan Cox (52). Powell later unleashed in the final over, hammering Andre Russell for two sixes and two fours.
Reflecting on his match-winning hand, Powell said
Abu Dhabi’s chase never left the runway. Willey and Mustafizur reduced them to 10/3, and despite Phil Salt’s 27 and brief hitting from Russell, Waqar Salamkheil’s 4 for 29 and Nabi’s control wrapped things up in 15.3 overs.
Captain Jason Holder admitted his side was outplayed
Shepherd’s Late Burst and Death-Over Calm Lift MI Emirates to Four-Run Thriller
In Sharjah, MI Emirates held their nerve to edge the Sharjah Warriors by four runs, thanks to Romario Shepherd’s remarkable all-round display.
Shepherd first blasted 31 off 10 balls*, including four sixes, to lift MI to 185 after Adil Rashid’s triple-strike had threatened to derail the innings. Bairstow (37) and Waseem (39) kept the top order steady, while Tom Banton added a crucial 32.
MI Emirates players celebrate a wicket against Sharjah Warriors. @ILT20
The Warriors chase swung dramatically. After early wickets, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (51) and Sikander Raza (64) built a 103-run partnership that had MI wobbling. But 17-year-old Allah Ghazanfar flipped the match with a brilliant two-wicket maiden, removing Raza and Pretorius in consecutive balls. Shepherd then defended 11 in the final over, closing out the match with ice-cold precision.
Warriors captain Tim Southee praised his side’s fight: “Both teams were in it till the end… Our bowling improved, but ideally you want someone set at the end of a chase. Credit to MI for holding on.”
Brief Scores: Dubai Capitals beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 83 runs. DC 186/4 (Powell 96*, Cox 52; Holder 2/30) ADKR 103 all out (Salt 27; Salamkheil 4/29, Willey 2/13) Player of the Match: Rovman Powell
MI Emirates beat Sharjah Warriorz by 4 runs. MI Emirates 185/8 (Waseem 39, Bairstow 37; Rashid 3/32) Sharjah Warriors 181/7 (Raza 64, Kohler-Cadmore 51; Ghazanfar 2/21) Player of the Match: Romario Shepherd.