Match 11, , January 19, 2025, 03:30 PM
Sharjah Warriorz
176/9(20.0ov)
MI Emirates
177/1(17.4ov)
MI Emirates beat Sharjah Warriorz by 9 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Tom Banton
Commentry
Right then, that is it from this game and MI Emirates temporarily move into second spot on the points table. There's still plenty of action left today in the ILT20 with the second game between Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Gulf Giants set to get underway in Dubai soon. You can switch tabs and check our coverage. Cheers!
Tom Banton is the Player of the Match for his match-winning ton. He starts by saying that cricket is a strange game and he didn't get off the mark for a long time and struggled for 25 balls. Adds that he has a better understanding of the game now and applauds the coaches and the skipper for showing confidence in him.
Nicholas Pooran, the captain of MI Emirates says that he is happy to get the win and last time he spoke about improving as a team and that was visible in this game. He then gives credit to the bowlers.
Tim Southee, the captain of Sharjah Warriorz says that the way MI Emirates shut down the innings with the ball was crucial and Banton batted really well. Reckons that when you can't hang on to catches, you can't change the game. Adds that Avishka Fernando has been unbelievable and long may it continue.
The Presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, Sharjah Warriorz were put into bat and lost Jason Roy very early on. However, the duo of Johnson Charles and Avishka Fernando steadied the ship with the latter once again scoring quick runs. They did lose a few wickets in the middle phase but looked good. MI Emirates made a solid comeback at the death and kept picking up wickets and restricted the Warriorz to under 180 runs. In reply, it was a fine partnership between Kusal Perera and Tom Banton that took MI Emirates over the line with 14 deliveries remaining.
Sharjah Warriorz were certainly 15-20 runs short with the bat and with the sun setting a bit, the pitch only got better for batting. Their bowling was tight in the first few overs as the Kiwi duo of Adam Milne and Tim Southee bowled in-tandem but it was Dilshan Madushanka who came in as the first change and picked up an early wicket. However, that was as good as it got for the Warriorz and a couple of dropped catches in the same over later on only added to their misery.
A stellar run chase and that has been the general norm in Sharjah as well. MI Emirates did lose their first wicket at just 20 and there was a phase where Tom Banton was unable to even get bat onto ball but Kusal Perera was the one who counter-attacked. This instilled confidence in Banton and soon enough, he was flying. The pair ended up stitching together and unbeaten stand of 157 runs, the second-highest ever in the ILT20. Perera brought up a well-deserved half-century whereas Banton went on to get that elusive ton and seal the victory for his side.
Well, well, what a performance from Tom Banton and what seemed an under-apr score on the board has proved to be just that. MI Emirates have brought up a fifth successive win against Sharjah Warriorz and now make it two wins out of four in this campaign on the whole.
In over# 18
1
6
0
6
Dilshan Madushanka 36/1(3.4)
17.4
1
There it is, Tom Banton hits the winning runs and MI Emirates have cruised to the win here. This is bowled full and angled in at the legs, Banton clips it away through mid-wicket and brings up the win. MI Emirates beat Sharjah Warriorz by 9 wickets!
17.3
6
SIX! Swung away for a biggie and Tom Banton notches up a brilliant CENTURY! Short ball on the hips, Banton stays put and whips it away over deep backward square leg for a biggie. The 4th ton in the history of the competition and what a knock this has been. Scores level as well.
17.2
.
Good length over the top of middle, slower too, Tom Banton brings out the reverse flick but misses.
17.1
6
SIX! Smartly done and Tom Banton is just one shot away from the triple-digit mark. Banged in well short around off, Banton uses his height and just ramps it high over deep third for a biggie.
In over# 17
0
1
1
0
1
1
Adam Milne 16/0(4)
16.6
.
Perera doing his best to give Banton as much of the strike as possible now. Full and in the blockhole around off, Perera blocks it under the eyes.
16.5
1
Swung away but finds the fielder! Pitched up around middle and leg, Banton clears the front leg and heaves it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a single.
16.4
1
On the shorter side again around off, Perera hops across and angles the pull down through square leg for another single.
16.3
.
Short of a length, darted across off, Kusal Perera stays upright and dabs it down to the right of backward point where the fielder makes a sharp stop.
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