ABU DHABI: MI Emirates produced a commanding all-round display to register a 35-run victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday, successfully defending a total of 187/4 in the first match of the day.

A strong finish with the bat, followed by disciplined bowling through the middle overs, ensured MI Emirates tightened their grip on the contest and climbed to second place in the International League T20 points table.

Jonny Bairstow set the tone with a blistering start at the top of the order, smashing 38 off just 16 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes. Muhammad Waseem provided stability alongside him, rotating the strike effectively as MI Emirates raced to 53/1 at the end of the powerplay before Bairstow was trapped LBW by Ajay Kumar in the fifth over.

Waseem continued to anchor the innings, adding 50 runs with Tom Banton as the pair consolidated through the middle overs. Piyush Chawla broke the partnership in the 12th over, but Banton briefly accelerated before departing for 38 off 28 balls.

MI Emirates then surged late in the innings, with Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard launching a decisive assault at the death. The duo added 62 runs off just 32 balls, with Pooran finishing unbeaten on 40 from 24 deliveries and Pollard contributing 28 off 16, as 44 runs came from the final three overs to lift MI Emirates to an imposing total.

In response, the Knight Riders made a promising start despite losing Phil Salt early, bowled by Allah Ghazanfar in the second over. Brandon McMullen and Alex Hales took control of the chase, finding regular boundaries and guiding their side to 59/1 at the end of the powerplay.

The pair’s 82-run partnership threatened to swing the game in the Knight Riders’ favour, but Arab Gul struck at a crucial moment in the 10th over to remove Hales for 40, halting the momentum. Although the Knight Riders reached the halfway stage well placed, requiring 92 from the final 10 overs, the balance of the match soon shifted.

MI Emirates tightened the screws between overs 11 and 15, with Zahoor Khan delivering a decisive spell.

He dismissed Sherfane Rutherford and Liam Livingstone in the 13th over, while Gul accounted for Andre Russell as the Knight Riders lost wickets in quick succession and struggled to keep pace with the rising run rate.

McMullen battled on valiantly, bringing up a gritty half-century, but with boundaries drying up the required rate ballooned beyond reach. Zahoor returned to claim his third wicket by removing Sunil Narine, extinguishing any remaining hopes of a late revival. McMullen remained unbeaten on 64 from 49 balls, with Alishan Sharafu’s 15 not out offering brief consolation as the Knight Riders closed on 152/7.

Zahoor finished with impressive figures of three for 16 to earn player-of-the-match honors.

“I’m extremely pleased with my performance,” he said.

“The support from the MI Emirates management has been outstanding. Having spent a lot of time playing cricket in the UAE, I understand these conditions well, and it was satisfying to see that experience contribute to a match-winning performance,” he added.

Knight Riders captain Jason Holder admitted his side lost momentum at a critical stage.

“One hundred and eighty-seven was a competitive but chaseable total on this surface, and at the halfway stage we felt we were in a strong position, however losing wickets in clusters during the middle overs completely stalled our momentum,” he said.