ABU DHABI: MI Emirates confirmed a top-two finish in the International League T20 with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Dubai Capitals at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday, sealing their place in Qualifier 1 with a match to spare.
A clinical all-round performance saw MI Emirates easily chase down a modest target of 123, led by skipper Kieron Pollard, whose unbeaten 44 off 31 balls, featuring one four and five sixes, capped a fifth successive win for his side.
The result sets up a Qualifier 1 showdown against Desert Vipers on Tuesday, with a place in the final at stake.
MI Emirates’ spinners laid the foundation for victory. Allah Ghazanfar continued his impressive campaign with figures of 3-28, while Shakib Al-Hasan delivered a miserly spell of 1-11 from four overs to restrict Dubai Capitals to 122-8 after they opted to bat.
MI Emirates made a fast start to the chase as openers Muhammad Waseem (27 off 19) and Andre Fletcher (21 off 30) put on 47 for the first wicket.
The breakthrough came in the seventh over when Haider Ali trapped Waseem lbw, before Fletcher was run out three overs later.
Despite the minor setbacks, MI Emirates were firmly in control at 59-2 midway through the innings.
Pollard then took charge alongside Tom Banton (28 off 20), with the pair decisively shifting momentum in the 14th over.
Pollard dismantled Waqar Salamkheil for 30 runs in the over, including three consecutive sixes, reducing the target to just 10 runs from five overs.
The chase was completed in style as Pollard and Banton shared an unbroken 67-run stand off 43 balls.
Speaking after being named player of the match, Ghazanfar said: “I bowled with the same confidence and stayed true to my plans. As a finger spinner, executing variations isn’t easy, but the work I put in behind the scenes really pays off.
“On the caught-and-bowled dismissal, I knew there was a chance I could be hit for six, but I backed my best delivery and stayed committed.”
Dubai Capitals’ captain Mohammad Nabi admitted his side fell short.
“We didn’t put enough runs on the board on this surface and credit to MI Emirates, they bowled very well. As a bowling unit, we gave it our best, but Pollard took the game away from us,” he said.
“The conditions in Dubai suit us and hopefully we can bounce back with a strong performance in the next match.”
The final ILT20 league fixture between Gulf Giants and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on Sunday will determine the Capitals’ opponent in the Eliminator on Thursday.
