The Gulf Giants kicked off their ILT20 Season 4 campaign in spectacular fashion, securing a commanding six-wicket victory over the MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium. This win was particularly sweet as it snapped a six-match losing streak for the Giants at this venue, setting a powerful tone for their new season.
MI Emirates' Innings: Early Collapse and a Pollard-Pooran Rescue
The foundation for the Giants' triumph was laid by a disciplined bowling performance that restricted MI Emirates to a total of 163 for 6 in their 20 overs. The Emirates' innings got off to a disastrous start, losing three crucial wickets within the powerplay overs. The new-ball pair of Nuwan Thushara and Azmatullah Omarzai were instrumental in this early breakthrough, with Thushara removing openers Mohammed Waseem and Jonny Bairstow, while Omarzai accounted for Tom Banton.
Facing a precarious situation at 31 for 3, the experienced duo of Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran staged a recovery. They built a steadying partnership of 78 runs, with Pollard scoring a brisk half-century off 33 balls. Pooran provided solid support with 46 runs from 39 deliveries. However, once their stand was broken, the Giants' bowlers regained control. Late cameos from Romario Shepherd (18* off 6 balls) and Rashid Khan (6 off 1 ball) provided a final flourish, but the total seemed below par.
The Giants' Chase: Nissanka's Masterclass and Omarzai's Assault
The Giants' reply did not begin smoothly either, as English seamer Chris Woakes struck twice early to remove Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gerhard Erasmus cheaply. At 29 for 2, the game was in the balance. However, Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka joined forces with stand-in captain Moeen Ali to steady the ship with a sensible partnership.
It was Nissanka who then shifted gears dramatically. He played a breathtaking innings, reaching his fifty in just 30 balls and eventually finishing with a match-winning 81 runs off a mere 42 deliveries. His knock was filled with clean hitting and precise placement, keeping the required run rate in check. Just as the Emirates hoped for a twist, Azmatullah Omarzai unleashed a brutal assault on star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, smashing him for 23 runs in a single over to shatter any remaining hopes for the opposition.
Omarzai remained unbeaten on a blistering 39 from just 16 balls, sealing the victory with more than five overs to spare. The Giants raced to their target of 164, finishing at 164 for 4 in just 14.4 overs. The MI Emirates bowling attack had a forgettable night, with four of their five main bowlers conceding over 10 runs per over.
Captain's Corner: Reactions from the Leaders
Gulf Giants' acting skipper, Moeen Ali, was full of praise for his team's all-round effort. "It's a great performance. The toss was huge. We bowled very well in the first 10 overs. They have three players who can take it away, and we held them back nicely, and then Nissanka and Omarzai were incredible," he said. He specially highlighted Nissanka's calm demeanor and destructive ability, calling him "one of the best in the world."
On the other side, MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard acknowledged his team's shortcomings. "Losing three wickets in the powerplay, and having to rebuild, we were short in the first innings. The ball was moving around quite a bit in the first 10 overs, and we couldn't finish it off as well as we wanted. We just need to be better in terms of execution," Pollard stated in the post-match presentation.
Brief Scores:
MI Emirates: 163/6 in 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 50, Nicholas Pooran 46; Nuwan Thushara 2/41, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/32)
Gulf Giants: 164/4 in 14.4 overs (Pathum Nissanka 81, Azmatullah Omarzai 39*; Chris Woakes 2/49)
