Sharjah Cricket Stadium witnessed a commanding performance from MI Emirates as they clinched their place in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 final with a decisive seven-wicket triumph over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders during Friday’s Qualifier 2 encounter.
The victory sets up a championship showdown against Desert Vipers scheduled for January 4 at Dubai International Stadium, marking MI Emirates’ second final appearance across the tournament’s four-season history.
After winning the toss, MI Emirates’ bowling unit delivered a masterclass in containment, restricting the Knight Riders to a modest 120/8 from their allotted 20 overs. Young spinner Allah Ghazanfar emerged as the standout performer with impressive figures of 3/24, while Muhammad Rohid contributed significantly with 2/19. Despite the challenging conditions, Alishan Sharafu provided resistance for the Knight Riders with an unbeaten 50 from 40 deliveries, with Alex Hales adding 29 from 36 balls in their 47-run partnership.
The chase began cautiously as MI Emirates navigated early pressure from Knight Riders’ bowling attack. The early departure of Andre Fletcher (5 off 6) in the second over created initial tension, but English batsman Tom Banton anchored the innings with an unbeaten 62 from 53 deliveries. The match turned decisively when Shakib Al Hasan joined Banton, with the duo assembling a game-changing 82-run partnership from just 53 balls. Shakib’s aggressive 38 from 24 deliveries, including a crucial 17-run over against Liam Livingstone, shifted momentum irreversibly in MI Emirates’ favor.
Banton reached his half-century in 49 deliveries during the 15th over, effectively sealing the victory with 23 balls remaining. The comprehensive nature of the win underscores MI Emirates’ growing dominance in the tournament’s knockout stages.
Post-match reflections highlighted the strategic approach that defined the contest. Player of the Match Shakib Al Hasan emphasized the importance of tactical batting: ‘The focus was on batting time and managing overs, especially against the spinners. That was my role today. In pressure games, losing wickets makes it very hard to recover.’
Knight Riders captain Jason Holder acknowledged the challenging conditions while praising his team’s overall campaign: ‘It was a challenging wicket early on, and we struggled to build momentum. Still, considering where we were midway through the tournament, I thought it was a solid effort overall. The commitment throughout the campaign was excellent.’