128/6 (17.3)
CR : 7.31
124/7 (20.0)
CR : 6.20
MI Emirates won by 4 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Shakib Al Hasan
2/1417(25)
MIE won by 4 wickets
11:26 PM IST and 9:56 PM Local Time : MI Emirates had a few hiccups in the low-scoring game but a few blunders from the Desert Vipers side has propelled them over the line. They have chased down the 125-run target with 15 balls in hand and by 4 wickets.
Desert Vipers were asked to bat first after losing the toss and they lost Fakhar Zaman early in their innings. Max Holden, the other opener was timing the ball well but his innings was cut short by Shakib Al Hasan for 20. Shakib's intelligent bowling yielded him the wicket of Sam Curran. Hasan Nawaz had a torrid time in the middle as he scored 13 in his 19-ball boundary less stay.
Daniel Lawrence played an anchoring knock of 35 runs from 34 balls hitting a boundary and a couple of contributions from Jason Roy (14) and Tom Bruce (12) took the team score of Vipers to 124/7.
For the MI Emirates, Shakib Al Hasan bowled a miserly spell of 2/14 in his 4 overs. Zahoor Khan took 2 wickets for 17 runs. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Arab Gul Momand took a wicket each.
When MI Emirates came to bat, they were off to aflying start as Muhammad Waseem got four early boundaries. Jonny Bairstow got off the mark with three but threw his wicket away. Lockie Ferguson's extra pace outdid Waseem for 18 and then the Vipers got some control on the game.
Tom Banton got out for run-a-ball 10 and Nicholas Pooran at the other end took 10 balls to set himself. Then he smacked Qais Ahmad for back to back maximums. But Pooran missed a paddle sweep off Dan Lawrence and got out for 17. Shakib Al Hasan was at the crease with Kieron Pollard them but the equation was looking tough for the Emirates.
Qais Ahmad was the chink in the armour of this Vipers bowling and Pollard took him on. When the asking rate was 7, Pollard took 18 runs off that over and brought the Emirates in the game. Pollard got out for 26 off 15 balls hitting 2 fours and 2 sixes. Then Shakib Al Hasan and Romario Shepherd took their team home. Shakib remained unbeaten on 17 off 25 balls and finished the game off.
Matiullah Khan took 2 wickets for 18 runs. Dan Lawrence bowled a miserly spell of 1/13 from his 4 overs. Qais Ahmad, David Payne took one wicket each.
Desert Vipers were asked to bat first after losing the toss and they lost Fakhar Zaman early in their innings. Max Holden, the other opener was timing the ball well but his innings was cut short by Shakib Al Hasan for 20. Shakib's intelligent bowling yielded him the wicket of Sam Curran. Hasan Nawaz had a torrid time in the middle as he scored 13 in his 19-ball boundary less stay.
Daniel Lawrence played an anchoring knock of 35 runs from 34 balls hitting a boundary and a couple of contributions from Jason Roy (14) and Tom Bruce (12) took the team score of Vipers to 124/7.
For the MI Emirates, Shakib Al Hasan bowled a miserly spell of 2/14 in his 4 overs. Zahoor Khan took 2 wickets for 17 runs. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Arab Gul Momand took a wicket each.
When MI Emirates came to bat, they were off to aflying start as Muhammad Waseem got four early boundaries. Jonny Bairstow got off the mark with three but threw his wicket away. Lockie Ferguson's extra pace outdid Waseem for 18 and then the Vipers got some control on the game.
Tom Banton got out for run-a-ball 10 and Nicholas Pooran at the other end took 10 balls to set himself. Then he smacked Qais Ahmad for back to back maximums. But Pooran missed a paddle sweep off Dan Lawrence and got out for 17. Shakib Al Hasan was at the crease with Kieron Pollard them but the equation was looking tough for the Emirates.
Qais Ahmad was the chink in the armour of this Vipers bowling and Pollard took him on. When the asking rate was 7, Pollard took 18 runs off that over and brought the Emirates in the game. Pollard got out for 26 off 15 balls hitting 2 fours and 2 sixes. Then Shakib Al Hasan and Romario Shepherd took their team home. Shakib remained unbeaten on 17 off 25 balls and finished the game off.
Matiullah Khan took 2 wickets for 18 runs. Dan Lawrence bowled a miserly spell of 1/13 from his 4 overs. Qais Ahmad, David Payne took one wicket each.
Time for post-match presentations...
Dispatch of the Day: Sanjay Krishnamurthi
Sam Curran (Desert Vipers Stand-in Captain): "Lockie Ferguson's injury didn't look great. Maybe it is because of the tight schedule. It didn't look great but we hope for the best. It was a nice track. A bit tricky and slow. We did a good job with the bowling. Despite resting some guys since we have already qualified and Lockie getting injured, we did a decent job. Having already qualified for the playoffs allows us to rest some players. We have lost some of the members due to injury or other reasons but we need to stick together as a team."
Kieron Pollard (MI Emirates Captain): "I think we are playing some good cricket but still we have some average things in between. But we strive for excellence and as long as we do that it is good for us. Today was a tricky game but we got over the line.
(On using the heaviest bat) I won't say that but yes I need some meat on the bat to power the ball through. You know for me it is playing situations. Didn't come too early today. Just tried to use the extra bit of power in the back end. Slowish pitch but I still think it was a decent track.
I think the discipline that we showed was good. The way Vipers batted, we knew we should have not gone for over-attack. I think the discipline the guys showed was great."
(On using the heaviest bat) I won't say that but yes I need some meat on the bat to power the ball through. You know for me it is playing situations. Didn't come too early today. Just tried to use the extra bit of power in the back end. Slowish pitch but I still think it was a decent track.
I think the discipline that we showed was good. The way Vipers batted, we knew we should have not gone for over-attack. I think the discipline the guys showed was great."
Player of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan (POTM): "The pitch suited to spinners. Nice to pick up some wickets and contribute to the side. It wasn't easy to bat on this track. I know the batting line-up we have, there are batters who can hit maximum. So I had to play the negative role, as one would say. If not the top but definitely Pollard is among the top two or three batters who can hit the longest sixes in world cricket."
That is the end of our coverage from the Sunday double-header. MI Emirates have defeated the Desert Vipers by 4 wickets and with 15 ball to go and they have consolidated their place in the points table. Tomorrow we will come back again as Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will take on the Sharjah Warriorz at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
For now, this is Saptak Sanyal signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Mohammad Anab and the scorer/analyst of this match Yogesh Kumar. Good night.
For now, this is Saptak Sanyal signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Mohammad Anab and the scorer/analyst of this match Yogesh Kumar. Good night.