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Dubai Capitals suffered their second loss of the ILT20 2025 as Sharjah Warriorz's Avishka Fernando smashed the fastest-ever fifty in the tournament's history. In the run chase of 202 at Sharjah Stadium, Fernando smashed eight sixes in his 27-ball 81 as Warriorz won with five wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare.
Hope's unbeaten 93, Powell's cameo help Capitals post big total
Earlier, Warriorz skipper Tim Southee won the toss and opted to bowl first. Shai Hope and Ben Dunk got Capitals off to a good start. Their partnership was broken in the fifth over by Adam Milne. Dunk departed after scoring 21 runs from 17 balls. Brandon McMullen contributed with a 14-ball 22 before he got bowled by Adil Rashid. At the halfway stage, Capitals were 83/2. Skipper Sikandar Raza took the attacking role in the middle overs. In the 13th over, Hope reached his fifty from 36 balls.
Karim Janat ended Raza's stay at the crease. Raza scored 27 runs from 20 balls. In the 18th over, Rovman Powell went berserk hitting two sixes and a four. In the penultimate over, Hope's catch was dropped and the ball went for a six. He followed it up with another six off Milne. Powell's catch was dropped in that over as well. In the final over, Southee struck twice to dismiss Powell and Dasun Shanaka. Powell scored 28 runs from 15 balls. Gulbadin Naib's boundary helped Capitals post 201/5. Hope remained unbeaten for 83 off 52 balls.
Fernando takes the game away
The run chase got off to an ideal start. In the third over, Johnson Charles hit Olly Stone for two sixes and a four. In his next over, Stone got rid of Charles. The opener hit three fours and as many sixes in his 19-ball 37. Fernando hit a six to conclude the powerplay overs. In the eighth over, Roy hit a six before losing his wicket to Dushmantha Chameera. Fernando welcomed Naib with a six and two fours. At the halfway stage, Warriorz were 107/2. In the 11th over, Stone dropped Fernando's catch off Akif Raja's bowling. Chameera returned to dismiss Rohan Mustafa who scored 17 runs from 16 balls. In the same over, Fernando hit a six to reach his fifty from 16 balls, the fastest in tournament's history.
Naib returned and Fernando hit him for three consecutive sixes in the 15th over. The Afghan pacer conceded 27 runs in the over. Fernando's stay at the crease came to an end in the next over as he was dismissed by Obed McCoy after hitting the ball out of the park. His knock as studded with eight sixes and six fours. In the next over, Chameera dismissed Janat. Luke Wells ensured there is no anti-climax as he hit Stone for three consecutive fours in the 18th over. In the penultimate over, he hit a boundary to finish off the run chase. Wells remained unbeaten for 31 off 17 balls. The win helped Warriorz reach second on the points table.
Fernando was adjudged 'Player of the match' for his stormy knock.
"Focussing on my natural game and thank the lord for today's knock. The wicket was nice to bat today, the thoughts when chasing 200 was to be positive, it came naturally and thankful for that. I did not realise that I have broken the record for the fastest-ever 50," the 26-year-old said in the post-match presentation.
