In the thrilling finale of the second edition of ILT20, Nicholas Pooran’s MI Emirates emerged victorious, claiming the trophy with a convincing 45-run win over Sam Billings’ Dubai Capitals.
Opting to bowl first, Capitals faced a formidable challenge as Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera provided a blazing start for Emirates, accumulating 72 runs in the initial six overs. Despite a slowdown in the next six overs, Pooran’s unbeaten 57 off 27 balls towards the end propelled Emirates to a formidable total of 208 for 3, the highest of the season.
In response, Capitals struggled to build partnerships, losing wickets at regular intervals. Their highest partnership, a mere 38 runs, came between Billings and Sikandar Raza for the fourth wicket. Both teams displayed vulnerabilities in the field, with Emirates dropping six catches. However, their substantial run cushion proved sufficient to withstand these missed opportunities.
Earlier in the match, Billings defied conventional wisdom by opting to bowl first, but the dynamic duo of Waseem and Perera forced a reevaluation of that decision. The pair quickly propelled Emirates past 50 in just 3.3 overs, with Waseem scoring 43 by the end of the powerplay.
The left-arm wristspinner, Zahir Khan, broke the partnership at 77 runs when Waseem miscued a wrong’un to wide mid-off. Despite a chance for another wicket as Billings missed a stumping opportunity against Andre Fletcher, Capitals managed to slow down the scoring rate. Perera’s attempt to accelerate ended with his dismissal by Raza.
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Fletcher struggled against Zahir and Raza but picked up the pace in the 16th over, securing his fifty off 35 balls. After Fletcher’s departure, Pooran took charge, guiding Emirates past the 200-run mark with a flurry of boundaries, including two fours and six sixes.
Emirates extended their lead when Akeal Hosein removed Leus du Plooy for a two-ball duck. Although Super Sub Tom Banton provided some resistance, legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth had him stumped for a 20-ball 35. Viyaskanth further dented Capitals by dismissing Raza.
By the 13th over, the asking rate for Capitals exceeded 15, prompting Billings to take risks. However, his attempt to charge against Waqar Salamkheil resulted in a missed connection and a stumping.
Despite Jason Holder getting three chances in five balls, Capitals struggled to find boundaries. After Trent Boult conceded only five runs in the 17th over and dismissed Rovman Powell, the equation for Capitals became challenging—requiring 75 runs from 18 balls with four wickets in hand. Although the Capitals’ innings lasted the full 20 overs, the outcome was decided much earlier in favor of MI Emirates.
In the final showdown, Dubai Capitals won the crucial toss, compelling MI Emirates to set the target with their bat. The Emirates wasted no time, with openers Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera forging a formidable partnership, accumulating 77 runs in the initial 40 balls. Waseem set the tone by launching a massive six off Scott Kuggeleijn on the fourth delivery of the match.
Waseem’s spectacular performance saw him scoring 43 off just 24 balls before Zahir Khan dismissed him in the seventh over. Perera contributed a vital 38 runs, keeping MI Emirates on course for a substantial total. The duo of Andre Fletcher and Nicholas Pooran continued the onslaught, crafting a rapid 56-run partnership for the third wicket.
Pooran emerged as the top-scorer with an unbeaten 57 off 27 balls, featuring two fours and six sixes, while Fletcher added 53 runs from 37 balls. Although Olly Stone, Zahir Khan, and Sikandar Raza managed to secure one wicket each for the Capitals, they proved expensive against the dynamic display by Pooran and Fletcher in Dubai.
Facing the challenge of chasing a formidable target, Dubai Capitals faced an early setback as opener Leus du Plooy fell on the second delivery of the innings. Akeal Hosein, the West Indies spinner, removed Plooy for a duck, providing MI Emirates with a perfect start.
English batsman Tom Banton exhibited aggressive cricket, scoring 35 off 20 balls, but the Capitals continued to lose wickets from one end. The young Sri Lankan spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth added to Emirates’ advantage by dismissing Banton in the eighth over.
