England’s batting all-rounder Liam Livingstone made the perfect statement after getting released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). With Sharjah Warrioz’s Dinesh Karthik behind the stumps, Livingstone smashed five sixes off the final over for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 2025. His unbeaten 38-ball 82 helped Knight Riders post a huge total of 233/4 on the board, helping them beat Warriorz by 39 runs in their campaign opener.
Decent start for Knight Riders
In their home game, Sharjah Warriorz captain Tim Southee won the toss and opted to bowl first. Southee was hit for three fours in the first over of the innings. Dwaine Pretorius broke the opening partnership by knocking over Michael Pepper for a nine-ball 15. Alex Hales hit consecutive sixes off Southee in the fifth over. Knight Riders were 58/1 after powerplay overs. In the eighth over, Adil Rashid knocked over Hales with a googly. The opener scored 32 runs from 19 deliveries, including a couple of fours and three sixes. Rashid got the wicket of another set batter, Alishan Sharafu who scored 34 runs from 23 balls. At the halfway stage, Knight Riders were 89/3.
Carnage in slog overs
Livingstone targeted Sikandar Raza for consecutive sixes in the 11th over. Sherfane Rutherford joined him in the onslaught as well. Rashid and Southee came back into the attack in the slog overs. After two boundary-less overs, Rutherford lost his wicket to USA's lef-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar. The Caribbean batter scored 45 runs from 27 balls, featuring three sixes and as many fours. Recently retired from the IPL, Andre Russell hit Southee for a six. On the last ball of the penultimate over, Livingstone reached his fifty from 32 balls. In the final over, he went berserk, hitting Pretorius for a six over long-off. On the second ball, he scored two runs. The Englishman unleashed carnage in last four balls, hitting four consecutive sixes. Knight Riders posted a daunting total of 233/4, the second-highest total of ILT20 history.
Poor start for Warriorz, David keeps run chase alive
Sharjah Warriorz's run chase got off to a slow start as Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Johnson Charles struggled to find boundaries in first three overs. In the fourth over, Charles targeted Olly Stone and departed for a nine-ball 10. Narine introduced himself into the attack and dismissed Tom Abell for a single-digit score Sharjah Warriorz had 43/2 on the board after powerplay overs. David did not take much time to get into attacking mode. On the other end, Piyush Chawloa ended Kohler-Cadmore's stay at the crease. He could score just 14 runs from 18 balls. In the ninth over, David hit Chawla for three consecutive sixes. At the halfway stage, Warriorz were 89/3.
David’s fifty not enough to take Warroriz close to target
George Garton was welcomed by David with a six over deep mid-wicket. Two deliveries later, Sikandar Raza departed for an 11-ball 18. Karthik arrived at the crease and got off the mark with a boundary. In the same over, David got to his fifty from 21 balls. Garton conceded 19 runs in the over. Russell was introduced into the attack and he knocked over Karthik. In the next over, Ajay Kumar dismissed David. The Australian hit seven sixes and two fours in his 24-ball 60. Pretorius tried to revive the run chase but it wasn't a one-man task, especially with Raees Ahmed playing too many dot balls. After eight balls, Raees got off the mark. In the 17th over, he was dismissed by Russell for a 12-ball 1. Pretorius' cameo came to an end in the 18th over with Stone knocking him over. He scored 39 runs from 20 balls. In the penultimate over, Rashid hit Russell for two sixes. Southee ended the over with a six. Russell conceded 25 runs off his last over. In the final over, all Garton needed to do was bowl six legitimate deliveries. He got the wicket of Rashid who scored 25 runs from 11 balls. Sharjah Warriorz managed to post 194/9 and lost the match by 39 runs.
David opts for Rs 2 crore base price after RCB exit
Roped in for Rs 8.75 crore in the mega auction, Livingstone struggled to find form in IPL 2025. He scored 112 runs from eight innings, including a fifty. In the final, he played in David's absence and contributed with a 15-ball 25. He was not retained by the franchise ahead of mini-auction. He has opted for a base price of Rs 2 crore.