On January 13, Shai Hope became Dubai Capitals' first centurion in International League T20 (ILT20) but could not save them from a 26-run loss against MI Emirates. In the run chase of 188 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Hope lacked support from the other end. The highest score by a Capitals batter after Hope was 12.
The former Delhi Capitals (DC) batter who went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is the third batter to score a century in ILT20 history. England's Alex Hales (110) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (106 not out) are the two batters who scored centuries in the 2023 season. The previous highest score by a Dubai Capitals belonged to Rovman Powell who scored 97 in 2023.
Pooran Banton score big
In the fourth match of the season, Dubai Capitals skipper Sikandar Raza won the toss and opted to bowl first. Dushmantha Chameera knocked over Kusal Perera with his first ball of the match. Tom Banton's catch was dropped early in the innings and he made full use of it. Chameera in his second over was expensive but MI Emirates lost Muhammad Waseen to a run out. Banton and Nicholas Pooran kept the scoring rate up int eh middle overs. In the 11th over, Banton reached his fifty with a six.
In the 12th over, Pooran went berserk hitting Farhan Khan for three consecutive sixes. In the 15th over, Pooran hit Olly Stone for a hat-trick of sixes. On the fourth ball, he lost his wicket. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 59 runs from 29 balls. In the 18th over, Banton lost his wicket to Stone. The Englishman scored 74 runs from 52 balls including nine fours and a couple of sixes. In the final over, MI Emirates managed to score just two runs. Gulbadin Naib dismissed Romario Shepherd, Kieron Pollard and Alzarri Joseph. MI Emirates posted 187/7.
Hope's century only highlight of Capitals' innings
In the run chase, Ben Dunk got an early reprieve. Hope got off to a blazing start and hit Joseph for three fours in a row. Joseph responded by dismissing Dunk who scored 10 runs from 12 balls. In the ninth over, Hope reached his fifty from 32 balls. At the halfway stage, Capitals were 77 for 1 as Brandon McCmullen took his time. Hope carried the run chase on his back. In the 14th over, McMullen got stumped for a 19-ball 16 to Waqar Salamkheil.
In the 16th over, Pooran hit Allah Ghazanfar for a four and a six. He reached his hundred from 58 balls. On the next ball, he got out in an attempt to play a slog sweep. His knock of 101 was laced with 11 fours and three sixes. In the next over, Fazalhaq Farooqi struck twice to knock over Raza and Dasun Shanaka. In the last three overs, Capitals needed 48 runs. Naib could not do much with bat and lost his wicket to Joseph. No boundaries were scored in last two overs with Powell and Stone in the middle. Capitals managed to post 161/6 and lost the match by 26 runs.
Raza hurt Hope's hundred went in vain
"It still hurts me that Shai got a hundred and we couldn't come across the line. He should have got the Man of the Match, it was a beautiful hundred to watch. Life balances itself out. Had MI won the other day, Farooqi would have been the Man of the Match. It balances out," Raza said in the post-match presentation.