In a nail-biting conclusion at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Sharjah Warriorz secured a dramatic four-wicket triumph over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on the final delivery of their DP World ILT20 Season 4 encounter. The victory propels Warriorz to six points with two matches remaining, intensifying the competition for playoff qualifications.
The match unfolded as a tale of two distinct phases. Knight Riders faced catastrophic collapse early in their innings, plummeting to 10/4 within four overs due to devastating bowling from Taskin Ahmed and Wasim Akram. UAE national Wasim Akram made history by delivering the league’s first-ever maiden over by a local player. Despite Sherfane Rutherford’s resilient 44 off 36 balls and Unmukt Chand’s supporting 24, Adil Rashid’s three-wicket haul (3/18) restricted Knight Riders to a modest 134/9.
Warriorz’s chase encountered early turbulence as Jason Holder and Ajay Kumar struck crucial blows. Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s 30 off 35 provided stability before James Rew’s unbeaten 42 off 29 balls emerged as the match-winning performance. Sikandar Raza contributed a vital 28 off 25, forming a 57-run partnership with Rew that proved decisive. The tension peaked when Warriorz required 12 runs from the final over, with Rew and Adil Rashid holding their nerve to secure victory on the ultimate delivery.
Post-match, Player of the Match Adil Rashid acknowledged the pressure of bowling critical overs against world-class opponents. Knight Riders captain Jason Holder conceded his team’s insufficient total despite praising his bowlers’ fighting spirit, particularly highlighting Sunil Narine’s economical spell that nearly turned the match.
The result significantly impacts the ILT20 standings, with Warriorz establishing themselves as serious playoff contenders while Knight Riders face increased pressure in their remaining fixtures.