Match Center

Time for a Super Saturday! It is a double-header day from two venues. 18th of January, 2025 kicks off in the ILT20 with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders taking on Desert Vipers in a day game in Dubai, followed by a night clash between Dubai Capitals and Gulf Giants in Sharjah. The first ball of the day will be bowled at 3.30 PM IST (1000 GMT) while the second match is scheduled to start at 7.30 pm IST (1400 GMT) but our buildup will begin well in advance. So please tune in early. But other than that, Saturday is also going to be a big day for many a player. The Women's Under-19 World Cup kicks off in Malaysia! You can catch that here as well, to go along with BPL, BBL, SA20 and Pakistan vs West Indies! We leave you for now, but our colleagues are covering a game developing nicely in Durban in the SA20. Might want to check that out. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Well, that ends a pretty bizarre evening in Sharjah. From an average score of 143 till 2024, the score spiked to 200-plus in the very first game of this edition. But curiously both sides misfielded a lot and dropped plenty of catches. Something to do with the uneven outfield and the stadium lights, perhaps? Well, that's one slight advantage for Dubai Capitals. Yes, they play their next game in less than 24 hours, but they would have had a first-hand experience of this ground, when they meet Gulf Giants in their next game on Saturday, 18th January, 2025. As far as Sharjah Warriorz are concerned, they get a day's break, despite also playing their next game in Sharjah, against MI Emirates, on Sunday, 19th January, 2025, albeit in a day game.

Sharjah Warriorz' AVISHKA FERNANDO IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning performance of 81 with the bat. He speaks in Sinhalese and Bhanuka Rajapaksa is there to translate in English. Avishka says that it was a good batting wicket and he just backed his shots. Says that his shots came out naturally. Also mentions that he didn't realize that he had broken the record of the fastest fifty and is happy to contribute for the side.

TIM SOUTHEE, the victorious captain of Sharjah Warriorz, calls the innings by Avishka Fernando incredible, especially after landing in Sharjah just this morning. Does not feel too disappointed with his team's fielding but in fact, looks at the same as a thing to improve in the coming games. Is not too sure how come players from both sides dropped so many catches. Admits that it was a good wicket stressing that if the bowler missed his execution even by an inch, the batters prospered, lauding both, Shai Hope and Avishka Fernando. Is happy with the depth of his own side.

SIKANDAR RAZA, the captain of Dubai Capitals, says that 201 was a good total which they normally do not see in Sharjah. Also mentions that he was pretty confident with the score and goes on to say that they should have been able to win this. About Shai Hope, he says that Hope has carried his form around wonderfully and is scoring runs with ease. Expects him to do the same in the coming games. On what went wrong in this game, Raza says that when the dew came in later, it got a bit tricky to hold and grip the ball. Says it is a quick turnaround as they will be playing their next game in less than 24 hours but will aim to bounce back strongly.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, Dubai Capitals put on a competitive 201 on the board, thanks to a compact unbeaten 83 by Shai Hope. The others chipped in as well staging useful partnerships and at the halfway stage, it seemed like a good score, with the Warriorz also dropping a few catches. But in the end, probably, from the next match, the batters might have to keep 20 runs as buffer because of the lush outfield and smaller boundaries. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

Disappointing outing for Dubai Capitals. It is not like they did not create chances. It is not like they never stood a chance. But the fielding was totally lacklustre. In fact, as per Niall O'Brien on air, 6 CATCHES were put down in the entire match. That means, both sides have to work on their fielding. Dushmantha Chameera was the standout, taking 3 wickets but the others, started well in the first 10 overs, before being pushed back by Avishka Fernando.

This kind of a knock was needed for Sharjah. Jason Roy was not his self at all, struggling to even rotate the strike and the pressure was being seen on the other end. Johnson Charles fell after a quickfire start but Avishka came like a hurricane and blew Dubai away. Later on, Luke Wells played well to support him.

We did feel that this year, the Sharjah pitch is looking a touch different. And what a deck to provide in your first game of the season. 403 runs in 38.1 overs for 10 wickets. Of course, no bowler will like it, as everyone went around the park, but batters will park it. If it was Shai Hope in the first innings, Avishka took the responsibility of batting through in the second. With a slight difference. He almost came out with an aura of invincibility around him, almost as if he felt that it was his night. He swung from the word go, aiming to attack Dubai and the attack just kept on coming. He received a lot of luck in his innings, with catches going down, balls landing in between, but that happens when you play an array of strokes.

Normally, when a score in excess of 200 is tracked down, it usually is a combined batting effort or a blinder of an innings from someone. Here, it was the latter and the blinder knock fetched him 81 in just 27 balls, getting the fast half century in the tournament's history en route. It is not like it has come out of the blue. We have seen Avishka score a quickfire century in the Lanka Premier League as well, but in this game, the Capitals were put to the sword.

THE HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL RUN CHASE IN THE HISTORY OF ILT20. Well done, Sharjah Warriorz, what happens to you when you meet Dubai Capitals? No wins against MI Emirates, just a win apiece against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers and Gulf Giants but have not lost a single game against the Capitals! 3 encounters, 3 wins, all in chases! With this win, Sharjah leapfrog the teams above them to move to second spot in the points table.

FOUR! A HISTORIC RUN CHASE AT THE SHARJAH CRICKET GROUND! Gulbadin Naib bowls another loosener, a short one, at a gentle pace, outside off. Luke Wells gets everything he wants - height, width, and length of the ball. He leans on the back foot, and lifts the ball over the vacant deep cover region. The ball dribbles away into the fence for a boundary.

Possibly the last over of the match. Gulbadin Naib to do the honours. 2-0-43-0 so far.

Another slower ball, on a length, outside off, Paul looks to pull but misses again, Gets hit on the right shoulder. 3 boundaries on the first 3 balls, just a run in the next 3. Olly Stone finishes with figures of 4-0-50-1.

He tries but cannot connect. A length ball, outside off, Keemo Paul jumps and swings wildly but misses.

A short ball, around middle, Luke Wells swivels around and pulls it towards deep square leg for a single. 4 needed for a win now. Will Paul hit the glory shot? Meanwhile, 50 for Stone!