Abu Dhabi(PNP)
Dubai Capitals eliminated Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 85 runs through a clinical all-round show in the Eliminator of the ILT20 season 2 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Invaluable and timely knocks from opener Tom Banton, who scored 44 off 31 balls with seven boundaries, Tom Abell, who contributed 41 off 29 balls with six boundaries, and skipper Sam Billings, who remained unbeaten on 46 off 26 balls with two boundaries and two sixes, as well as Sikandar Raza’s breezy 40 off 19 balls with five boundaries and one six, gave Dubai Capitals a winning total of 188 for 5.
Knight Riders failed to rise to the challenge and were bowled out for a paltry 103 runs through splendid bowling displays from Scott Kuggeleijn (4 for 17) backed by Zahir Khan (2 for 25) and Sikandar Raza (2 for 27). Capitals thus booked their slot for the Qualifier 2.
Earlier, Knight Riders won the toss and elected to bowl against the Capitals.
Sikandar Raza emerged the hero once again for Capitals to bag the Player of the Match award. Receiving the award, he said: “Any time a role is given to me, I will try to give my best. As long as I am prepared, I am happy to do it. We thought that if we get 160, they have to bat really well to win. Once we got 188, all we had to do was to get wickets in the powerplay. And once we did that, we were always in the game.”
Brief scores:
Dubai Capitals bt Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 85 runs.
Dubai Capitals 188 for 5 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 44, Tom Abell 41, Sam Billings 46n.o, Sikandar Raza 40, Sabir Ali 2 for 35)
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 103 in 16.5 overs (Sam Hain 29, David Willey 36, Scott Kuggeleijn 4 for 17, Zahir Khan 2 for 25, Sikandar Raza 2 for 27).
Player of the Match: Sikandar Raza
