ILT20: Shakib, Pollard star in MI Emirates' win, Vipers skipper Curran blames tight schedule for loss

In a low-scoring game at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, MI Emirates beat Desert Vipers by four wickets. After Shakib Al Hasan's economical spell helped restrict Vipers to 124/7, skipper Kieron Pollard's 15-ball 26 cameo got Emirates over the line with four wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare. This was Vipers’ second defeat of the season whereas Emirates’ registered their fifth, taking a step closer to ILT20 2025-26 playoffs spot.

Vipers crawl in Dubai

Pollard won the toss and opted to bowl first. Max Holden got an early reprieve but could not go on to get a big score. Allah Ghazanfar knocked him over in the fifth over for an 18-ball 20. Shakib was introduced into the attack in the seventh over and he delivered with Fakhar Zaman's wicket. In his second over, Shakib got the wicket of Curran, caught and bowled for a single-digit score. Arab Gul Momand struck in his first over, ending Hasan Nawaz's stay at the crease. He scored just 13 runs from 19 balls. Vipers were 54/4 at the halfway stage.

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Two Englishmen, Jason Roy and Dan Lawrence struggled in middle overs. Lawrence's catch was put down in Shakib's last over. The Bangladesh all-rounder conceded just 14 runs. Lawarence hit the first six of the innings in the 16th over. In the next over, Roy got run out for an 18-ball 14. Tom Bruce hit a six in the 18th over. Zahoor Khan got the better of Bruce and Sanjay Pahal in the last over. Vipers managed to post 124/7 with Lawrence unbeaten on 34-ball 35.

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Sixes help Emirates keep Vipers down

Muhammad Waseem attacked early in the run chase, hitting four fours in the first two overs. An in-form David Payne got the breakthrough with Jonny Bairstow's wicket. Lockie Ferguson in his first over got the wicket of Waseem. He scored 18 runs from 13 balls. After powerplay overs, Emirates were 35/2. Nicholas Pooran scored just one from 10 balls and then hit Qais Ahmad for two consecutive sixes in the seventh over. Ahmad made a comeback by knocking over Tom Banton. In the next over, Lawrence got rid of Pooran who contributed with a run-a-ball 17.

Pollard cashes in after Ferguson’s injury

Ferguson was brought back into the attack. He bowled three dots before suffering a calf injury. The Kiwi pacer left the field. Zaman bowled the remaining three deliveries and conceded a six. Sanjay Krishnamurthi hit two sixes as Shakib struggled to rotate strike. In the 13th over, Matiullah Khan got his wicket. As the run chase got tricky, Pollard targeted Ahmad, hitting him for two consecutive sixes and a four. After the 18-run over, Pollard departed for a 15-ball 26 to Matiullah. But, it was a consolation wicket. Romario Shepherd levelled the score with a six. On the third ball of 18th over, Shakib finished the run chase with a boundary. He faced 25 balls to score 17 runs.