Gritty Gulf Giants get the better of MI Emirates in thrilling contest

Abu Dhabi: The Gulf Giants were forced to dig deep, and they responded brilliantly, to defeat the MI Emirates by two wickets in a nail-biter at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, in Season 3 of the DP World ILT20. The Gulf Giants looked down and out at one stage, before their lower order showed nerves of steel to guide the side over the finish line against the MI Emirates. The win helped the Gulf Giants move to fifth on the points table.

Gulf Giants could not get off to a fast start but Tom Alsop and Gerhard Erasmus began to rebuild the innings with a solid half-century stand. The The third wicket produced 65 runs for the Gulf Giants, who were back in the contest. But once the pair was separated, Giants lost four quick wickets to swing the match in MI Indians’ favour.

Tom Curran and Mark Adair produced a crucial seventh-wicket partnership to were picking some crucial boundaries at this point, and brought the Giants to within 17 runs of the target, with two overs to go.

Fazalhaq Farooqi accounted for Adair for 15 in the 19th over, and then Aayan Khan combined with Curran and Muhammad Zuhaib to clinch a thrilling win off the final delivery of the game. Aayan, who scored an unbeaten 11 of six deliveries, was instrumental in helping his side over the line.

Adair said, “It was just about getting the basics right again. Tom Curran came in and shared his experience, and that helped in the crucial moments.”

Once again the top order floundered and failed to give MI Emirates’ a good start. Down 57 for four, Tom Banton and Kieron Pollard, who scored 34, were instrumental in MI Emirates put a fighting total on the board while Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd added a few lusty blows to take MI Emirates to 151 for six in 20 overs. While Hosein finished unbeaten on 20, Shepherd was not out on eight, the MI Emirates got 151/6 in their 20 overs. Incidentally, Banton’s half-century meant he took over the Green Belt for being the highest run-getter in the tournament.

MI Emirates’ captain Nicholas Pooran said, “It was a tough one today, we weren’t disciplined enough, and paid the price as a team.”

Brief scores: Gulf Giants beat MI Emirates by two wickets. MI Emirates 151/6 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 56, Kieron Pollard 34, Daniel Worral 2 for 19, Mark Adair 1 for 24, Blessing Muzarabani 1 for 16) Gulf Giants 152/8 in 20 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 37, Tom Alsop 32, Tom Curran 16, Fazalhaq Farooqi 3 for 34, Muhammad Rohid Khan — 2 for 15). Player of the Match: Mark Adair.