UAE batter Alishan Sharafu's half-century and Kyle Mayers' three-fer with the new ball helped Abu Dhabi Knight Riders register a convincing 42-run win over MI Emirates at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on January 25. Kieron Pollard's unbeaten half-century went in vain as he found no support from the other end.
Knight Riders get off to slow start
MI Emirates skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to bowl first. Fazalhaq Farooqi started well but Romario Shepherd leaked boundaries against Mayers. Alzarri Joseph in the fourth over struck twice to dismiss Mayers and Michael Pepper. Andries Gous hit the first six of the innings. Knight Riders were 39/2 after powerplay overs. In the eighth over, Waqar Salamkheil got the wicket of Gous. The USA batter contributed with an 18-ball 27. At the halfway stage, Knight Riders were 71/3.
Sharafu, Holder finish well
Charith Asalanka scored at just over run-a-ball. In the 12th over, he lost his wicket to Zahoor Khan. The Sri Lankan captain scored 32 runs from 28 balls. In the same over, Roston Chase got off the mark with a six. Chase and Sharafu pushed the scoring rate. In the 16th over, Sharafu's catch was dropped. He made use of it and continued to hit big. In the 18th over, Sharafu reached his fifty from 33 balls. Chase walked off the field before penultimate over retired hurt. Andre Russell hit a first-ball six and then got out to Joseph. Jason Holder's seven-ball 22 helped Knight Riders post 182/7. Sharafu got out to Farooqi in the last over after scoring 55 runs from 38 balls including seven fours and a six.
MI lose early wickets
In the run chase, Muhammad Waseem got off the mark with a six. Kusal Perera hit Mayers for two consecutive fours and then got caught at mid-on. David Willey in his second over got Tom Banton caught at first slip. Pooran failed to make a mark and got out to Mayers after scoring just one run from seven balls. In the sixth over, Waseem hit Mayers for two consecutive sixes before getting caught at short fine leg. He scored 19 runs from 10 balls. MI Emirates ewre 39/4 after powerplay overs. Dan Mousley struggled to find boundaries in middle overs. At the halfway stage, MI Emirates were 65/4.
MI fall well short of target
Mousley gave in to the pressure of required run rate mounting up. He lost his wicket to Holder after scoring 17 runs from 26 balls. In the last five overs, they needed 90 runs. In the 17th over, Pollard hit a six and three fours. He reached his fifty from 38 balls. But the required rate was out of MI's grasp. In the penultimate over, Romario Shepherd lost his wicket to Holder. Pollard remained unbeaten for 69 off 49 deliveries as MI managed to post 140/6 and lost the match by 42 runs.