152/7 (20.0)
CR : 7.60
187/4 (20.0)
CR : 9.35
MI Emirates won by 35 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Zahoor Khan
3/16
19.6
2
F Farooqi to A Sharafu
Full toss on the middle stump line. Sharafu makes room and launches this up and over extra cover. Pollard jogs from long off and picks it up, couple of runs to finish the game.
Over 20
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 152/7
Alishan Sharafu15(10)
Brandon McMullen64(49)
Fazalhaq Farooqi1-40(4.0)
MIE won by 35 runs
7:09 PM IST and 5:39 PM Local Time: MI Emirates win by 35 runs! They have been superb post the 10th over and move to second on the points table with that winning margin! They have put forward a good case for qualification. Knight Riders on the other hand have a lot of hard work to do now as the table is not showing any mercy to them.
The MI Emirates were put into bat by the Knight Riders. They started in fine fashion with Johnny Bairstow (38) teeing off early. He attacked the new ball and especially took liking to Olly Stone. However, Ajay Kumar got rid of him in the 5th over. Mohammad Waseem (37) and Tom Banton (38) at a slower pace continued to build a partnership and made sure there was no collapse.
At 121/3 in 14 overs, when Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran joined each other some serious boundary carnage took place. Both Trinidadians whacked the ball to all parts and scored 60+ in the final 6 overs to take the score to 187/4 in 20 overs. Pooran ended with 40* and Pollard with 28. The pick of the bowlers was Captain Jason Holder with figures of 1-25 in four overs.
The general opinion was that 187 was an above par total with no dew setting in the second innings. Phil Salt and Alex Hales started the chase in fine fashion when they took Fazalhaq Farooqi's first over for 14 runs. Salt was cleaned up in the second over by an absolute peach from Allah Ghazanfar. However, that did not perturb the Knight Riders. Brandon McMullen joined Alex Hales and they continued to attack. Both batters made sure the spinner did not settle and raced to 90/1 in 9 overs.
However, that is when a quiet over from Arab Momand eked out the big wicket of Alex Hales as the English batters nailed a pull straight to deep midwicket. Pollard saw an opportunity to claw in back and kept the new batter on the strike and himself stood at short leg. Got his spinners and slower bowlers on and made sure the pressure piled up on this sticky wicket. From 96/1 the Knight Riders slipped to 109/5 with Sherfane Rutherford, Liam Livingstone and Andre Russell departed in quick succession without any impact.
The ADKR innings just got sucked into a quicksand post the 10th over. They eventually got restricted to 152/7. Only Brandon McMullen with 64 had a score to talk about in that scorecard and he too struggled with wickets falling around him. There was no boundary between the 11th and the 18th over. Something which is unacceptable in T20 cricket. The pick of the bowlers for the Emirates were Zahoor Khan (3-16) and Arab Momand (2-19). The others too kept things quiet around these serial wicket takers.
Massive win for the Emirates and they have boosted their NRR big time with this victory. Pollard the captain was superb with his proactiveness. His bowling changes and his bowlers delivering have earned MI Emirates this victory.
The MI Emirates were put into bat by the Knight Riders. They started in fine fashion with Johnny Bairstow (38) teeing off early. He attacked the new ball and especially took liking to Olly Stone. However, Ajay Kumar got rid of him in the 5th over. Mohammad Waseem (37) and Tom Banton (38) at a slower pace continued to build a partnership and made sure there was no collapse.
At 121/3 in 14 overs, when Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran joined each other some serious boundary carnage took place. Both Trinidadians whacked the ball to all parts and scored 60+ in the final 6 overs to take the score to 187/4 in 20 overs. Pooran ended with 40* and Pollard with 28. The pick of the bowlers was Captain Jason Holder with figures of 1-25 in four overs.
The general opinion was that 187 was an above par total with no dew setting in the second innings. Phil Salt and Alex Hales started the chase in fine fashion when they took Fazalhaq Farooqi's first over for 14 runs. Salt was cleaned up in the second over by an absolute peach from Allah Ghazanfar. However, that did not perturb the Knight Riders. Brandon McMullen joined Alex Hales and they continued to attack. Both batters made sure the spinner did not settle and raced to 90/1 in 9 overs.
However, that is when a quiet over from Arab Momand eked out the big wicket of Alex Hales as the English batters nailed a pull straight to deep midwicket. Pollard saw an opportunity to claw in back and kept the new batter on the strike and himself stood at short leg. Got his spinners and slower bowlers on and made sure the pressure piled up on this sticky wicket. From 96/1 the Knight Riders slipped to 109/5 with Sherfane Rutherford, Liam Livingstone and Andre Russell departed in quick succession without any impact.
The ADKR innings just got sucked into a quicksand post the 10th over. They eventually got restricted to 152/7. Only Brandon McMullen with 64 had a score to talk about in that scorecard and he too struggled with wickets falling around him. There was no boundary between the 11th and the 18th over. Something which is unacceptable in T20 cricket. The pick of the bowlers for the Emirates were Zahoor Khan (3-16) and Arab Momand (2-19). The others too kept things quiet around these serial wicket takers.
Massive win for the Emirates and they have boosted their NRR big time with this victory. Pollard the captain was superb with his proactiveness. His bowling changes and his bowlers delivering have earned MI Emirates this victory.
Time for the Post match presentations...
Jason Holder (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Captain): "Don't think it was a par total. It was chaseable. We were well ahead in the game halfway in our chase but lost wickets later.
We were cruising in the game. We didn't get a partnership later and failed to hit boundaries for a while. We will try to be smarter with the bat, get big partnerships. All in all, we will be more clinical, try to score more runs and execute our plans."
We were cruising in the game. We didn't get a partnership later and failed to hit boundaries for a while. We will try to be smarter with the bat, get big partnerships. All in all, we will be more clinical, try to score more runs and execute our plans."
Kieron Pollard (MI Emirates Captain): "The opposite team coach (Dwayne Bravo) came out to the boundary and said some choice words so gave him the glare after taking the catch.
When you are chasing a total, you are always fighting pressure. A bad shot brings about a wicket. Told the boys post the powerplay that the game has started now with the field spread open.
Ghazanfar is a remarkable talent. He is with us in the IPL as well. Has a world cup before that as well. Very excited for him.
Always difficult to fill the shoes of Rashid Khan but very proud of how Arab Momand stepped up. Bowled a no ball first delivery but then he bounced back in fine fashion to fight it for the team."
When you are chasing a total, you are always fighting pressure. A bad shot brings about a wicket. Told the boys post the powerplay that the game has started now with the field spread open.
Ghazanfar is a remarkable talent. He is with us in the IPL as well. Has a world cup before that as well. Very excited for him.
Always difficult to fill the shoes of Rashid Khan but very proud of how Arab Momand stepped up. Bowled a no ball first delivery but then he bounced back in fine fashion to fight it for the team."
Player of the Match: Zahoor Khan
Zahoor Khan (Player of the Match): "I am thankful to the MI management who gave me the chance. I dedicate this award to my wife and my twins.
I am playing here since the last 8-9 years. I work on my variations and trust my execution. ADKR has the best batting lineup in the tournament but our leadership group makes plans for each batter which makes the job easier."
I am playing here since the last 8-9 years. I work on my variations and trust my execution. ADKR has the best batting lineup in the tournament but our leadership group makes plans for each batter which makes the job easier."
Kieron Pollard and his MI Emirates have fought superbly well to eke out a win against the Knight Riders. The action does not stop as today is a double header Saturday. Switch tabs as we move to Dubai now for the clash between Desert Vipers and Sharjah Warriorz!
On this note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Ninaad Dixit and Ghanendra Singh Thakur! See yaaa!!!
On this note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Ninaad Dixit and Ghanendra Singh Thakur! See yaaa!!!