MI Emirates led by Nicholas Pooran clinched their maiden ILT20 title with a comfortable 45-run victory over Dubai Capitals in the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 17. After a superb batting display featuring half-centuries from Pooran and Andre Fletcher, MI Emirates bowlers were economical and did not let Dubai Capitals take the game away from them.
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Electrifying start for Emirates
Dubai Capitals skipper Sam Billings won the toss and opted to field first. The move did not pay off as openers Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera came out all guns blazing in the powerplay overs. Waseem was more attacking of the two and MI Emirates crossed the 50-run mark in just 19 balls. After powerplay overs, they had 72 runs on the board. Zahir Khan in his first over provided the breakthrough. Waseem was dismissed for 32 off 24 balls featuring three fours and three sixes.ย
After two boundaryless overs, Andre Fletcher hit Haider Ali for a maximum. At the halfway stage, they were 97/1. Sikandar Raza was brought back into the attack and he dismissed Perera. The opener scored 38 runs from 26 balls including six fours. Fletcher and Pooran took calculated risks in the middle overs. As soon as the slog overs began, Fletcher went after Scott Kuggleijn. Fletcher hit the Kiwi bowler for a four followed by two sixes to reach his half-century from 28 balls. But he was dismissed by Olly Stone in the next over. His 37-ball 53 was laced with three fours and four sixes.ย
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Pooran finishes in style
Pooran went after his fellow countryman Jason Holder hit him for a couple of sixes including a 110m monstrous hit. Kieron Pollard hit a boundary and his catch was dropped on the next delivery. Stone bowled a perfect penultimate over but Pooran managed to hit a six on the last ball as Raza dropped a half chance. In the final over, Kuggeleijn was right on target on the first three balls. Then he bowled a wide. Pooran finished the innings in style with a four and two sixes. He remained unbeaten for 57 off 27 balls including two fours and six sixes. MI Emirates posted 208/3.
Faulty start from Capitalsย
In the run chase, Dubai Capitals suffered an early blow. Leu du Plooy was dismissed lbw by Akeal Hosein for a two-ball duck. Tom Banton hit the first six of the innings in the third over. Tom Abell got an early reprieve as Dwayne Bravo dropped a straightforward catch at mid-off. He was dropped again in the next over. This time it was Pollard at mid-on. But Muhammad Rohit Khan ended Abell's troubled stay at the crease with a slower one. Pollard took the catch as Abell departed after scoring 14 runs from 16 balls. Banton hit another six off Hosein as Dubai Capitals were 47/2 after the powerplay overs.
No rescue act from Billings and middle-order
Billings struggled to hit boundaries early in his innings. Super-sub Vijayakanth Viyaskanth dismissed Banton off a wide ball. Pooran completed an easy stumping. The opener scored 35 runs from 20 balls. Billings tried to get the run chase back on track but Raza faltered. He became Viyaskanth's second victim of the evening after scoring just 10 runs from 13 balls. In the next over, he hit a six but Waqar Salamkheil had the last laugh. The skipper departed after scoring 40 runs from 29 balls. Holder hit a four and a six in an attempt to revive the run chase. His catch was dropped twice. Trent Boult came back into the attack and dismissed Rovman Powell with a slower bounce. In the penultimate over, he got rid of Holder as well. The Caribbean all-rounder scored 24 runs from 16 balls. Dubai Capitals managed to post 163/7 and lost the match by 45 runs.
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