DC VS MIE T20S

Right then, that’s a wrap for the opening game of the third edition of the International League T20, where the Dubai Capitals have turned the tables on last season’s finale loss to the MI Emirates, starting this campaign in spectacular style. The action continues with an exhilarating double-header Super Sunday on the 12th of January, 2025. In the first game, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will take on the Desert Vipers, while the second match will see the Gulf Giants lock horns with the Sharjah Warriors. The first ball of the opening game will be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT), and as always, we’ll bring you all the build-up and excitement well before the start. Mark your reminders, as it promises to be a thrilling day of T20 action! Until then, it’s goodbye from us, and see you soon!

GULBADIN NAIB IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his outstanding bowling. He says that it is one of the biggest leagues and he is happy to contribute to the team’s win. Adds that the total wasn’t good and they were short by 10-15 runs. Mentions that the wicket was looking difficult at first but they stuck to the plans. Concludes that the ball was seaming and that was helping the bowlers and it was not easy for batters to just go and hit straightaway.

The captain of Dubai Capitals, Sikandar Raza says that the team held their nerves well. Shares that he is glad with the way every bowler responded. Tells that it was not a 180-run wicket and at the halfway mark, they thought 150 would have been a good total. Adds that the talk was about staying calm and sticking to Test match bowling. Feels that while chasing these totals, batting teams tend to kill the chase early and Olly Stone helped them prevent MI from doing that. States that he felt that the game was running away from them which is why he took the strategic break earlier and did not wait till the 16th over.

Nicholas Pooran, the skipper of MI Emirates is up for a chat. He says that it was a wonderful game of cricket. Adds that they were unlucky that they couldn’t get over the line but overall, satisfied with the performances. Mentions that their bowling was wonderful especially Fazalhaq Farooqi and the spinners were also good on the pitch. States that they wanted to win this first game, but the result hasn’t gone their way and they will come back stronger in the next one. Concludes that Akeal Hosein had a good partnership with him and they wanted to slow things down in the middle to try and win it.

It's time for the Presentation Ceremony...

Earlier in the game, the MI Emirates bowlers were relentless, leaving no room for the Dubai Capitals' batters to settle. Early strikes had the Capitals in trouble, but Brandon McMullen stood firm, capitalizing on some fielding lapses and finding brief support from Rovman Powell to rebuild. However, both failed to push on and once Brandon fell after a well-made half-century, the Capitals' innings collapsed like a house of cards. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the chief destroyer, delivering a sensational five-wicket haul for just 16 runs, helping Emirates restrict the Capitals to a mere 133 runs.

With just 32 runs needed from 28 balls, it seemed MI Emirates were cruising to victory, until Gulbadin Naib broke the momentum by removing Akeal Hosein, ever so slightly opening the door for a dramatic turn. What followed was a thunderous knock on that door from the Dubai Capitals. Naib, with his precision and clever variations, struck again, sending Nicholas Pooran back to the pavilion and triggering a mini-collapse that brought the Capitals roaring back into the game. Although Kieron Pollard remained at the crease, the required couple of big hits were elusive. Unable to find his rhythm in the final overs, MI Emirates succumbed to the mounting pressure, losing a game they had firmly in their grasp by a heartbreaking single run.

Chasing a modest target of 134 runs, MI Emirates were handed the worst possible start, losing 4 wickets for a mere 23 runs. Olly Stone spearheaded the early collapse, with his relentless pace, while his bowling partner at the other end also kept up the pressure. However, Akeal Hosein and Nicholas Pooran refused to panic, calmly weathering the storm and taking their time to settle in. Once they found their rhythm, runs started flowing freely. Their crucial 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket breathed life back into the chase, but even then, the road ahead remained far from easy.

DUBAI CAPITALS WIN BY 1 RUN! The 20-year-old Farhan Khan kept his composure and defended 12 runs in the final over, with the formidable Kieron Pollard standing between him and victory. Against all odds, the Dubai Capitals snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, avenging their heartbreaking loss in last season's finale with a thrilling win in this season's opener. A low-scoring thriller that had us on the edge of our seats from start to finish. An electrifying way to kick off the ILT20 season!

FOUR! Farhan Khan has done it for the Dubai Capitals! Take a bow, young man! Stays over the wicket and hurls it on a short of a good length, on off, Kieron Pollard backs away and shapes up to go leg side. Fails to get the elevation on the shot as he drags it away. It goes right between deep mid-wicket and long on but it lands well in front of the ropes. It goes one bounce for a boundary. Sikandar Raza and Co. have pulled off a heist. Dubai win by 1 run!

The throw goes at the wrong end and now, a six will do the job for MI Emirates! This is on a nagging length, on off, Kieron Pollard drags it off the inner half of the bat towards deep mid-wicket where Dasun Shanaka runs in off the ropes. AM Ghazanfar is struggling to make his ground at the bowling end but Shanaka fires it on the bounce to the batting end where the bails are taken off by Hope. The third umpire is called into action and the replays show that Pollard has made it in safely.

Excellent from Farhan! Banged in short by Farhan, around the right shoulder of the batter, Kieron Pollard swivels to pull it away but the ball comes onto him slower than he expected. Goes through the pull shot early and he fails to connect.

FOUR! Not where he intended but it will do the job for Pollard! Angling in, on a good length, on middle, Kieron Pollard looks to swipe it towards deep mid-wicket but gets it a lot finer. It races through backward square leg for a boundary.

So close to the off stump! On a good length, honing in and around the off pole, Kieron Pollard shapes up to go back over the bowler's head but misses. 12 needed off 3.

Wide! Farhan slips it just beyond the tramline on off while trying to keep it away from the batter's reach. Kieron Pollard backs away for the cut but misses.

Steams in from over the wicket and lands it on a nagging length, on middle and leg, Kieron Pollard goes deep in the crease to hack it away on the leg side but misses and wears it on the back thigh. A dot to start the final over.

Who will bowl the final over? MI Emirates need 13 runs off the last 6 balls and it will be Kieron Pollard who will be on strike. Sikandar Raza gets the youngster, Farhan Khan to bowl the last 6 balls. Can he defend 12 runs?