Dubai Capitals barely made it to the playoffs but somehow they found momentum at the right time and have booked their seat in the ILT20 2024 final against MI Emirates with an easy nine-wicket win over defending champions Gulf Giants. After keeping Gulf Giants' score to below par 138, Jo'burg Super Kings' opener Leus du Plooy's unbeaten 63 led Dubai Capitals to victory with 25 balls to spare at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Vince struggles to score
Earlier, Gulf Giants skipper James Vince won the toss and opted to bat first. Usman Khan got the Gulf Giants off to a flyer with his 11-ball 21. In the third over, Jason Holder got the better of him with a short ball. Chris Lynn failed to perform on the big stage and got bowled by Haider Ali for a three-ball duck. Vince struggled to score in powerplay overs with just seven runs from 17 balls. In the eighth over, first Jordan Cox got run out. Then the off-spinner dismissed Jamie Smith for a two-ball duck. Vince hit his first six of the innings in the 10th over.
A dull finish
Shimron Hetmyer could not do much damage either and lost his wicket to Scott Kuggeleijn. After three boundaryless overs, Vince broke the shackles with a four and a six against Sikandar Raza. Chris Jordan struggled to score as well. Meanwhile, Vince got to his half-century from 47 balls. Jordan hit Zahir Khan for a six in the 18th over. The skipper departed in the penultimate over. He scored 58 runs from 53 balls including four fours and a couple of sixes. Jamie Overton hit a couple of boundaries off Olly Stone to get the momentum on his side. In the final over, Kuggeleijn conceded 11 runs including a six off Jordan's bat. He remained unbeaten for 30 runs from 29 balls as Gulf Giants managed to post 138/6.
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No breakthrough in powerplay overs
Super-sub Daniel Worrall struggled to find line and length with the new ball. Tom Banton and Plooy hit him for boundaries. Aayan Khan erred too and the Proteas batter made him pay for it. He took on Jordan in the sixth over hitting him for a six and two fours. Dubai Capitals were 73 for no loss after powerplay overs.
South African opener finishes it off
Liam Dawson and Carlos Brathwaite tried to bring the Gulf Giants back into the game. In the 12th over, Dawson broke the partnership. Banton got caught at long-on. He contributed with a run-a-ball 38 in the 98-run opening partnership. Plooy and Tom Abell did not let Gulf Giants stage a comeback. The opener reached his half-century from 35 balls. In the 16th over, Plooy finished the run chase with a boundary. His 40-ball 63 featured five fours and three sixes.
Dubai Capitals will now face MI Emirates in the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 17.
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