NEW DELHI: In the last group match of ILT20 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday night, the Dubai Capitals were unstoppable as they outperformed the Desert Vipers with the ball and bat to win by nine wickets.
Gulbadin Naib played up to his reputation as one of the top all-rounders by hitting an outstanding undefeated fifty-five, and Qais Ahmad was outstanding for the Capitals, finishing with a fantastic spell of four for twenty-five.
The victory completes a remarkable comeback for the Capitals, who had only won one of their first four games of the season before rallying to win four of their next five games and take second place in the standings.
Now, on February 5, the Dubai Capitals will play Qualifier 1 against the same opponents, the Desert Vipers, while on February 6, MI Emirates will play Sharjah Warriorz in the Eliminator. The winner of Qualifier 1 will meet the Qualifier 1 loser for a spot in the final on February 7.
Chasing 138, Adam Rossington and Shai Hope used aggressive batting from the first over. Rossington scored 20 runs in just 15 deliveries as the pair amassed 34 runs in the opening four overs. He nailed David Payne for a maximum, ending his blitzkrieg, but the Englishman caught him behind the very next delivery.
The Capitals reached 50/1 at the end of the powerplay after Naib entered to bat at a deficit of one and immediately made his intentions known by clobbering Sam Curran for an incredible four. Wanindu Hasaranga let up just six runs in his next two overs, threatening to halt the Capitals’ momentum, but the batters found the boundaries when they needed them most, coasting to 76/1 at the end of ten overs.
Naib tried his luck in the eleventh over, but the Capitals were still well ahead of the needed run rate. Both top edges went past the boundary lines after he mistimed two shots. Hope skied a slow ball, giving the Vipers a great chance to cause some damage, but the catch was dropped, and the two quickly reached the 50-run mark for the second wicket.
Khuzaima Tanveer was thrashed for 12 runs in the 14th over as the Capitals dominated, but Hasaranga returned to conclude his term with another tight over, giving up only four runs. They were well in control of the chase and only needed 26 runs from the last six overs.
To reach 50 off just 29 deliveries, Naib hit Tanveer for a maximum over deep midwicket. Naib was dropped again on the following ball, demonstrating the Vipers’ ongoing poor fielding.
Soon after, Hope led the Capitals to a decisive nine-wicket victory with a brilliant pull shot that brought him up to his fourth 50 of the tournament.
