Abu Dhabi,
Sharjah Warriors crashed before the might of table toppers MI Emirates and succumbed to an eight-wicket defeat in the 18th match of the ILT20 season 2 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Emirates displayed their bowling skills to restrict Warriors to 129 through left-arm spinners Waqar Salamkheil (3 for 18) and Akeal Hoesin (2 for 20).
They spun a web around Warriors’ batters to strangle their run flow, while experienced pacer Trent Boult chipped in with two wickets for 29.
Except for Johnson Charles who hit 29 off 31 balls with three boundaries and a six, and Williams’ 35 off 25 balls with three boundaries and a six, none of the Warriors’ batters could rise to the challenge.
MI Emirates then exhibited their batting might too and breezed to the target in 11.1 overs. UAE skipper and MI Emirates opener Muhammad Waseem played an exquisite knock filled with audacious strokes. He hit Chris Woakes for two consecutive boundaries in the first over and then went on to thrash Mark Watt for three sixes and two boundaries and take 27 runs off his over.
When Kusal Perera too hit two boundaries off Woakes, MI Emirates reached the 50-run mark in just three overs. The way the pair smashed the attack it looked like they were racing as to who would be the first to reach their half century.
Left-arm pacer Muhammad Jawadullah got Waseem out caught at mid-wicket by Williams for 37. His knock off 13 balls had four boundaries and three sixes. He put on 80 runs in 5.3 overs. Perera too followed clean-bowled by James Fuller for 47 off 27 balls with five boundaries and two sixes. Skipper Nicholas Pooran (24n.o) and Andre Fletcher (22n.o) steered their team smoothly to the target with 53 balls to spare.
Brief scores:
MI Emirates bt Sharjah Warriors by 8 wkts. Sharjah Warriors 129 in 20 overs (Johnson Charles 29, Sean Williams 35, Akeal Hosein 2 for 20, Trent Boult 2 for 29, Waqar Salamkheil 3 for 18) MI Emirates 133 for 2 in 11.1 overs (Muhammad Waseem 37, Kusal Perera 47, Andre Fletcher 22n.o, Nicholas Pooran 24n.o)
Player of the Match: Waqar Salamkheil
