Dubai: The Gulf Giants began their campaign with a resounding six-wicket win against MI Emirates in the DP World ILT20 Season 4. A swashbuckling knock of 81 runs in 42 balls from Pathum Nissanka and an all-round performance from Azmatullah Omarzai proved crucial for the Giants as they broke a six-match losing streak at the Dubai International Stadium
Apart from a 78-run partnership between Nicholas Pooran (46 off 39) and half-centurion Kieron Pollard (50 off 33), the Giants were strong with the ball. Omarzai and Nuwan Thosehara led with two wicket hauls each. In contrast, four out of five MI Emirates bowlers conceded more than 10 runs per over.
In the second innings, Chris Woakes caused an early upset for the Giants with the wickets of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6 from 3) and Gerhard Erasmus (1 from 5). Pathum Nissanka and Moeen Ali (26 off 21) steadied the ship and took the Giants to 67 until Moeen Ali was exhausted.
Nissanka opened the innings and scored briskly after an alert start. He crossed the 50-run mark in 30 balls with three fours and two sixes.
Soon after, Omarzai (39* off 16) raced against Rashid Khan and hit a devastating 23-run over four and three sixes, putting the Giants in control. Nissanka added to the damage with three boundaries and a six off Chris Woakes before being dismissed in the 15th over.
Omarzai remained unbeaten as the Giants reached their target in 14.4 overs
MI Emirates were asked to bat first and made 36/3 in the powerplay thanks to the Giants’ pace attack. Nuwan Thosehara caught Mohammed Waseem (1 of 2) and Jonny Bairstow (11 of 13), with both batters caught and bowled. Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omarzai cleaned up Tom Banton (6 off 8) in the third over.
Runs were difficult to score as Nicholas Pooran and Tajinder Singh (15 off 19) tried to get back on their feet. The pair put together a 27-run stand before Moeen Ali outwitted Tajinder to leave MI Emirates at 58/4 in 10 overs.
The innings needed momentum and Pollard made sure of it in the 13th over, firing three sixes in a row off Tabraiz Shamsi. Pooran joined the attack with a 14-run plunder against Haider Razzaq, taking the duo to a 50-run partnership in just 36 balls. To hit his third six of the evening, Pooran fell to Razzaq in the 18th over and scored 141/5.
Kieron Pollard was sent off by Omarzai in the final. But Romario Shepherd (18* off 6) and Rashid Khan (6* off 1) performed well to help MI Emirates score 163/6.
On Gulf Giants’ win, stand-in captain Moeen Ali said: “It’s a great achievement. The throw was huge. We bowled very well in the first 10 overs. They have three players who can take it and we held them back well and then Nissanka and Omarzai were incredible. Nissanka is a brilliant player. He is one of the best in the world. He is very calm, doesn’t say much but has a punch. Omarzai gave us that.” Momentum to finish the game by taking on Rashid Khan.”
MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard said: “As we lost three wickets in the powerplay and had to rebuild, we lacked wickets in the first innings.
Short scores
Gulf Giants defeated MI Emirates by six wickets
Mi Emirates 163/6 in 20 overs (Keron Pollard 50, Nicholas Poron 46, Roario Shepherd 18 not out, Nuwan Thosehara 2 for 41, Azmatullah Omarzai 2 for 32)
Gulf Giants 164/4 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 81, Azmatullah Omarzai 39 not out, Moeen Ali 26, Chris Woakes 2 for 49, AM Ghazanfar 1 for 18)
