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Abu Dhabi franchise MI Emirates are ILT20 champions of 2024

Muhammad Waseem lifts the trophy for MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium
17 Feb 2024 23:15

KUUMAR SHYAM (Dubai)

MI Emirates, the Abu Dhabi-based franchise of the six-team DP World International League Twenty20 cricket tournament, saved the best for the last when they trounced Dubai Capitals by 45 runs in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.

Consistently strong in the batting department, MI Emirates were served well once again with captain Nicholas Pooran leading from the front with his willow as he and Andre Fletcher sent the already vibrant atmosphere for the packed final into electrifying mode.

  • His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Member of the Cabinet, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Chairman Emirates Cricket Board, and Akash Ambani of MI Emirates (ILT20)
    His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Member of the Cabinet, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Chairman Emirates Cricket Board, and Akash Ambani of MI Emirates (ILT20)

 



Along with opener and UAE captain Muhammad Waseem first and then Andre Fletcher, Pooran's top order registered the highest total of the tournament with their run riot. Put in to bat first by the toss-winning Dubai captain Sam Billings, MI Emirates got what they wanted as they took the 20-over target past the 200-run milestone for the first and only time in the tournament.

"If I can be honest, we knew we would bat very well after the kind of training we had yesterday," said Waseem in the post-match chat. "The pitch was very good and I am really happy for the way we started [the innings] and how team and I performed."

Billings was left to rue the fact that his bowlers ended up short as Dubai were left with a massive target to chase after MI Emirates piled up 208 for 3 in their quota. Pooran fell short of the top run-scoring batsman of the tournament by an agonising two runs with his knock of 57 runs from 27 balls, studded with six sixes and two boundaries. Facing the last three balls of the innings, he went 4, 6, 6 to end up on 354 runs for the tournament, behind James Vince of Gulf Giants.
 


Pooran was backed by Fletcher's 53 off 37 balls, featuring four sixes and three boundaries. Openers Muhammad Waseem and his partner Kusal Perera contributed aggressively, with Waseem scoring 43 off 24 balls, including three boundaries and three sixes, and Perera adding 38 off 26 balls, with six boundaries, leading to a 77-run opening partnership.

"As captain, I'm going to bed thinking where it went wrong," Billings said. "But they were brilliant, Nicholas Pooran in that mood is very difficult to play against. Maybe they scored 20-25 runs too many." Capitals could muster only 163 for 7 in 20 overs with Trent Boult and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth bagging two wicket each for MI Emirates, who received the winners’ prize of a whopping US$700,000 while the runners-up received $300,000.

Billings' frustration boiled over with an angry interaction upon his dismissal in the run chase when bowler Waqar Salamkheil went overboard in his celebration with abusive language. Capitals had it tough from the start with Emirates’ Akeal Hosein trapping Leus du Plooy leg before, for a duck. Tom Abell, when on 7, was dropped by Dwayne Bravo at mid-off by Trent Boult, but was later caught by Pollard off Rohid Khan for 14. There were five catches dropped by Emirates fielders.

Banton and his skipper Sam Billing pushed the score to 63 when Banton got foxed by leg spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth to be stumped by Pooran for 35. Sikandar Raza, who has played many match-winning knocks for Capitals, scored just 10 runs before hitting Viyaskanth to Waseem at deep mid-wicket. Capitals, faced with the challenge of scoring 100 runs in 41 balls, saw Waqar Salamkheil remove Billings stumped by Pooran for a fighting 40. Trent Boult then struck twice to remove Rovman Powell caught by Waseem at deep midwicket and clean bowl Jason Holder for 24 to ensure his team’s victory.


Earlier, Waseem started the proceedings with a first-ball six over long-on off Scott Kuggeleijn, while his partner Kusal Perera played some flowing drives. The pair reached their half-century partnership in 3.3 overs, with Waseem hitting two boundaries and a six off Kuggeleijn in that over. By the end of the powerplay, MI Emirates had posted 72 runs and well on their way. Waseem fell to Zahir Khan when he was seven short of his half-century, lifting Zahir Khan to Rovman Powell at mid-off.


Vince took the Green Belt as the highest run-getter. Salamkheil with 17 wickets was the highest wicket-taker and bagged the White Belt on better economy rate pipping Fazalhaq Farooqi, who too had 17 wickets. Muhammad Waseem won the Blue Belt for the best UAE player for the second year is succession. Sikandar Raza bagged the Red Belt for the Most Value Player. All of them pocketed $15,000 each. The awards for the biggest six, hit by Fletcher, and most sixes – Pooran – were handed out by DP World. The Cycle Hub Catch of the season went to Billings for his one-handed effort at the slip to dismiss Will Smeed in the second match of the tournament.  


Pooran, with his daughter in the lap while addressing the media, hailed his openers for setting the stage for the final and the whole team for the tournament. “It is truly special to be the man of the match in the final. We spoke about having the right energy and attitude. I couldn't have asked for a better start, they [openers] did the hard work, we just finished it off. It's about understanding the situation and batting accordingly."


Brief scores: MI Emirates bt Dubai Capitals by 45 runs.  MI Emirates 208 for 3 in 20 overs (Muhammad Waseem 43, Kusal Perera 38, Andre Fletcher 53, Nicholas Pooran 57n.o) Dubai Capitals  163 for 7 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 35, Sam Billings 40, Jason Holder 24, Trent Boult 2 for 20, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 2 for 24)
Player of the Match: Nicholas Pooran.

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