Right then, that is it from this game but there's plenty of action still to come in the ILT20 2024 as more teams look to fight their way for a playoff berth. Next up is a doubleheader on Saturday, 3rd February and first up it will be Desert Vipers taking on Gulf Giants in Dubai beginning at 4 pm IST (10.30 am GMT) and then Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will take on Dubai Capitals in Abu Dhabi at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT). Cheers!
Waqar Salamkheil is adjudged the Player of the Match for his brilliant spell with the ball.
The Presentation ceremony...
Sharjah Warriors will be disappointed with that performance as they not only faltered with the bat but couldn't do much with the ball either. After getting off to a decent with the bat, the middle order just collapsed and had it not been for a fighting knock that Sean Williams played, the Warriors would have struggled to reach even 100 runs. They did put up a total on the board which was fairly low but they will feel, they could have made the opposition work a bit harder. The biggest surprise was that the substitute that they brought off the bench, Mark Watt went for a whopping 27 runs in the one over he bowled and everyone else was put away to the cleaners as well but one positive was that Maheesh Theekshana continued to bowl well and was the only one whose economy rate wasn't in the double digits.
What a resounding win for MI Emirates and they have brushed aside a fairly low total without breaking much of a sweat. The bowlers had set things up pretty well with Trent Boult and Akeal Hosein picking up a couple of wickets each and Waqar Salamkheil bowling that wonderful spell in the middle overs. The opening pair of Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera came out firing on all cylinders and put on an 80-run stand in just 33 deliveries before Waseem got out and that completely broke the back of the chase. From there on it was pretty simple and even though they lost Perera as well, Andre Fletcher and skipper Nicholas Pooran got them over the finish line in just 11.1 overs to further solidify their position at the top.
In over# 12
4
Maheesh Theekshana 26/0(3.1)
11.1
4
Four! Supreme shot! The batter comes forward and drives this through covers and finds the fence.
In over# 11
4
1wd
4
4
0
2
1
Muhammad Jawadullah 22/1(2)
10.6
4
Four! No need to run for that. The batter comes forward and punches it through covers. Finds the fence.
10.6
1wd
Wide! Beaten! Lovely bowling as the batter is defeated all ends up.
10.5
4
Four! That is played with soft hands. The batter waits in his crease, allows the ball to come and then guides it to the fence at point.
10.4
4
Four! Nicely done. Going back in his crease, waiting for the ball to arrive and then flicking it away.
10.3
.
No run, beaten! Lovely bowling as the batter is defeated all ends up.
10.2
2
2 runs, the batter has tapped that away for a couple.
10.1
1
1 run, this is driven through mid on for a single.
In over# 10
0
0
2
1
6
1
Maheesh Theekshana 22/0(3)
9.6
.
No run, that is defended solidly off the front foot.
9.5
.
No run, the batter plays the scoop shot.
9.4
2
2 runs, the batter plays the square cut. Fetches him a couple of runs.