Led by James Vince’s captain’s knock of 83, the Gulf Giants downed the MI Emirates in the Qualifier 2 of the ILT20 at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday, February 10, booking their place in the final where they will take on the Desert Vipers in the title clash at the same venue on February 12.
Choosing to bowl first, the Giants restricted MI to just 167/5. It would have been a lot lesser keeping in mind the collapse of their top order, with Andre Fletcher (4 off 4) and Dan Mousley (7 off 11) getting dismissed for single digits. At the end of the powerplay, MI Emirates were 34 for 2.
Then, Nicholas Pooran stabilised the innings alongside skipper Pollard, who scored an unbeaten 57 runs from 35 balls with three boundaries and four sixes.
For the Giants, Vince opened and went on to carry his bat as well, scoring an unbeaten 83 which came off 56 balls with ten boundaries and one six. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Vince carried his team to the target with 11 balls to spare.
Alongside Chris Lynn, the Giants began by scoring 10 runs off Trent Boult’s first over. Eventually, Dwayne Bravo provided the breakthrough having Lynn caught by Mousley at extra cover to the last delivery of the powerplay after their 64-run partnership.
But this resilience soon began crumbling, with Afghan bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rashid Khan getting wickets at regular intervals. but this did not break Vince's flow. With four runs needed off 12 balls, Boult clean-bowled Carlos Brathwaite for 13. But Vince went on to hit the winning boundary through the covers off Farooqi's bowling as the batter remained unconquered to ensure the victory.
This victory was their second over MI Emirates this season, but the onus will be on the Giants, who will face the Desert Vipers in the final. The Giants lost to their opponents in Qualifier 1 on February 8 and will hope to overcome this result if they have aspirations of lifting the title.
