130/10 (20.0)
CR : 6.50
137/8 (20.0)
CR : 6.85
MI Emirates won by 7 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Rashid Khan
2/141(3)
Over 20
Dubai Capitals 130/10
David Willey9(5)
Muhammad Jawadullah0(0)
Romario Shepherd2-25(3.0)
MIE won by 7 runs
11:51 PM IST, 10:21 PM Local Time: The Afghan spin duo of MI Emirates combined with the masterful captaincy of Kieron Pollard has managed to take MI Emirates home by a margin of 7 runs.
Dubai Capitals’ decision to bowl first after winning the toss initially looked inspired, but by the end of a dramatic contest, it was MI Emirates who walked away with a narrow yet thoroughly deserved victory.
MI Emirates began their innings positively, with Jonny Bairstow and Muhammad Waseem negotiating the new ball well and making the most of the powerplay. The pair ensured there was early momentum, playing with freedom and intent before the Dubai spinners clawed their way back into the contest during the middle overs.
Once spin was introduced, the scoring rate dipped sharply. Nicholas Pooran endured a torrid time, managing just 8 runs from 16 balls, and wickets began to fall at regular intervals as MI Emirates struggled to build partnerships. Despite the collapse around him, one man looked completely at ease. Jonny Bairstow produced a masterclass, making batting look effortless on a surface where others laboured. The English veteran struck 67 off 40 balls, scoring 8 fours and 3 sixes, anchoring the innings from one end.
Dubai, however, will rue a shocking fielding display. Seven straightforward catches were spilled, allowing MI Emirates to recover repeatedly and push their total to 137/8 in 20 overs, a score that felt well above par given the conditions.
The bowlers largely did their job. Haider Ali was outstanding, conceding just 18 runs in his four overs while picking up a wicket. Mustafizur Rahman turned the game with a devastating over, finishing with 3 for 34, all three wickets coming in a single spell. David Willey was miserly up front, returning figures of 1 for 20 from four overs, while Muhammad Jawadullah impressed in a brief but lethal outing, claiming 2 wickets for just 7 runs in two overs.
Chasing 138, Dubai Capitals started brightly. Shayan Jahangir set the tone with some clean hitting, and alongside Jordan Cox at No. 3, made the chase look comfortable. At the halfway mark, Dubai were cruising at almost a run-a-ball, seemingly in control. However, the Afghan spinners tightened the noose, cutting off boundaries and forcing errors. Jahangir fell for a promising 34 off 27 balls, playing a rash shot, and what followed was a complete batting collapse. Rashid Khan ripped through the middle order, while Kieron Pollard’s animated captaincy standing at silly point and constantly chirping added to the pressure.
From a position of strength, Dubai imploded spectacularly. Wickets tumbled in clusters, composure vanished, and the Capitals made a complete mess of a straightforward chase. They were eventually bowled out for 130, falling short by 7 runs, a poetic margin, matching the seven catches they dropped in the first inning. MI Emirates’ bowling was disciplined and incisive. Rashid Khan led the charge with 2 for 14 from four overs, while Allah Ghazanfar conceded just 27 in his four. Naveen-ul-Haq chipped in with 2 for 27, and Kamindu Mendis was economical, taking 1 for 16 from three over.
In the end, MI Emirates’ resilience, superior fielding, and relentless pressure proved decisive. For Dubai Capitals, it was a night of missed chances, both in the field and with the bat, that ultimately cost them the game.
Dubai Capitals’ decision to bowl first after winning the toss initially looked inspired, but by the end of a dramatic contest, it was MI Emirates who walked away with a narrow yet thoroughly deserved victory.
MI Emirates began their innings positively, with Jonny Bairstow and Muhammad Waseem negotiating the new ball well and making the most of the powerplay. The pair ensured there was early momentum, playing with freedom and intent before the Dubai spinners clawed their way back into the contest during the middle overs.
Once spin was introduced, the scoring rate dipped sharply. Nicholas Pooran endured a torrid time, managing just 8 runs from 16 balls, and wickets began to fall at regular intervals as MI Emirates struggled to build partnerships. Despite the collapse around him, one man looked completely at ease. Jonny Bairstow produced a masterclass, making batting look effortless on a surface where others laboured. The English veteran struck 67 off 40 balls, scoring 8 fours and 3 sixes, anchoring the innings from one end.
Dubai, however, will rue a shocking fielding display. Seven straightforward catches were spilled, allowing MI Emirates to recover repeatedly and push their total to 137/8 in 20 overs, a score that felt well above par given the conditions.
The bowlers largely did their job. Haider Ali was outstanding, conceding just 18 runs in his four overs while picking up a wicket. Mustafizur Rahman turned the game with a devastating over, finishing with 3 for 34, all three wickets coming in a single spell. David Willey was miserly up front, returning figures of 1 for 20 from four overs, while Muhammad Jawadullah impressed in a brief but lethal outing, claiming 2 wickets for just 7 runs in two overs.
Chasing 138, Dubai Capitals started brightly. Shayan Jahangir set the tone with some clean hitting, and alongside Jordan Cox at No. 3, made the chase look comfortable. At the halfway mark, Dubai were cruising at almost a run-a-ball, seemingly in control. However, the Afghan spinners tightened the noose, cutting off boundaries and forcing errors. Jahangir fell for a promising 34 off 27 balls, playing a rash shot, and what followed was a complete batting collapse. Rashid Khan ripped through the middle order, while Kieron Pollard’s animated captaincy standing at silly point and constantly chirping added to the pressure.
From a position of strength, Dubai imploded spectacularly. Wickets tumbled in clusters, composure vanished, and the Capitals made a complete mess of a straightforward chase. They were eventually bowled out for 130, falling short by 7 runs, a poetic margin, matching the seven catches they dropped in the first inning. MI Emirates’ bowling was disciplined and incisive. Rashid Khan led the charge with 2 for 14 from four overs, while Allah Ghazanfar conceded just 27 in his four. Naveen-ul-Haq chipped in with 2 for 27, and Kamindu Mendis was economical, taking 1 for 16 from three over.
In the end, MI Emirates’ resilience, superior fielding, and relentless pressure proved decisive. For Dubai Capitals, it was a night of missed chances, both in the field and with the bat, that ultimately cost them the game.
Time for the post-match presentations.
Dasun Shanaka (Dubai Capitals Captain): "See we really bowled them out from the game but the dropped catches cost us some runs and some of them went for boundaries. There were times when we controlled the game but ya it is unfortunate.
Ya it was totally in our hands. But you know I gave away my wicket. I think my wicket and Neesham's wicket were crucial. I think we gave away our win actually.
No I do not see any impact with the light here. It was totally dependant on the judgement. Yes mistakes can happen but it is a tough one to take away."
Ya it was totally in our hands. But you know I gave away my wicket. I think my wicket and Neesham's wicket were crucial. I think we gave away our win actually.
No I do not see any impact with the light here. It was totally dependant on the judgement. Yes mistakes can happen but it is a tough one to take away."
Kieron Pollard (MI Emirates Captain): "Yeah we did. We saw how they bowled as well. Fizz bowled some slower ball into the wicket, on the longer side. Willey as well. I just thought that at 90 odd for the loss of 2 and losing the rest of the wicket for not many was really unacceptable for any of us.
(On Pollard's Captaincy) It was on the experience. I have been around for a long time. I know that in some games when it is close like that, the batters tend to get really complacent. If we can apply a little bit of pressure and bowl in the right areas, there is no point of having a guy under the batters and not bowling in the right areas. So, credit must be given to the bowlers as well and the way that we defended the total - I told the guys that it doesn't matter if we don't defend the total it is fine, lets just give everything we have and they did. I can't express how happy I am, because of the manner we defended and we snuck 2 points from when we didn't have enough on the board.
(On Powell's wicket) When plans come together you feel really nice. We had a chat about it as well. I had one opportunity to get into his mind and take his wicket. He is one man who can take the game away from you and I know some of his weaknesses as well. So, we took our chance and hopefully, he will get better at these scenarios and that he will. Also, it was a brilliant effort from Rashid in terms of executing the googly. It was a total team effort from the bowling unit.
(On Naveen's penultimate over) We brought in Naveen. He had gotten one game in Sharjah where he bowled exceptionally well. He hadn't got an opportunity since and that is one thing about our side that the guys on the bench are performing too and he came from bench and bowled in the right lengths tonight."
(On Pollard's Captaincy) It was on the experience. I have been around for a long time. I know that in some games when it is close like that, the batters tend to get really complacent. If we can apply a little bit of pressure and bowl in the right areas, there is no point of having a guy under the batters and not bowling in the right areas. So, credit must be given to the bowlers as well and the way that we defended the total - I told the guys that it doesn't matter if we don't defend the total it is fine, lets just give everything we have and they did. I can't express how happy I am, because of the manner we defended and we snuck 2 points from when we didn't have enough on the board.
(On Powell's wicket) When plans come together you feel really nice. We had a chat about it as well. I had one opportunity to get into his mind and take his wicket. He is one man who can take the game away from you and I know some of his weaknesses as well. So, we took our chance and hopefully, he will get better at these scenarios and that he will. Also, it was a brilliant effort from Rashid in terms of executing the googly. It was a total team effort from the bowling unit.
(On Naveen's penultimate over) We brought in Naveen. He had gotten one game in Sharjah where he bowled exceptionally well. He hadn't got an opportunity since and that is one thing about our side that the guys on the bench are performing too and he came from bench and bowled in the right lengths tonight."
Player of the Match: Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan (Player of the Match): "Happy for the performance today, specially for the win. The way we came from the last game, it was just about making sure we finish stronger. Pollard came to me and said like last two balls and you have to do something different. I wanted to bowl the wrong ball and see if he (Powell) goes for it. Got the right result.
You know it is good to be in the team where you have experience as well as new talent. You can share the experience and they get the positive motivation and try to give their best. The way Naveen bowled in the death. Sheppo (Romario Shepherd), Mindu (Kamindu Mendis) and Ghanzanfar did well. It was a complete team effort. I think the way we fielded has given us a good energy as a bowling unit.
The best kind of motivation is when your teammate celebrates your success. Give everyone in the team a good energy is a great thing. That's a team effort. It is a family. As long as you keep doing that it is good. The way he (Kieron Pollard) celebrated my wicket, I got so much energy.
This was my last game and I will head back to South Africa. But ya I am trying my best to bring something new to the table. World cup is coming and I hope I work better on a few things that has not worked for me before."
You know it is good to be in the team where you have experience as well as new talent. You can share the experience and they get the positive motivation and try to give their best. The way Naveen bowled in the death. Sheppo (Romario Shepherd), Mindu (Kamindu Mendis) and Ghanzanfar did well. It was a complete team effort. I think the way we fielded has given us a good energy as a bowling unit.
The best kind of motivation is when your teammate celebrates your success. Give everyone in the team a good energy is a great thing. That's a team effort. It is a family. As long as you keep doing that it is good. The way he (Kieron Pollard) celebrated my wicket, I got so much energy.
This was my last game and I will head back to South Africa. But ya I am trying my best to bring something new to the table. World cup is coming and I hope I work better on a few things that has not worked for me before."
That is it from our side, MI Emirates have beaten Dubai Capitals by 7 runs in a low scoring thriller. This is Utsav Chandak, signing off on behalf of Saptak Sanyal and Yogesh Kumar. Stay tuned with the Crickxo app for all the cricket updates.