DUBAI: An all-round batting and bowling effort led MI Emirates into the International League (ILT20) final after a comfortable 45-run victory over Gulf Giants in the first Qualifier on Wednesday.
Put into bat first, MI Emirates posted a commendable total of 163/7 in the allotted 20 overs, courtesy of a combined effort by their middle order.
But the table-toppers had a shaky start to their innings as they were three down with just 46 runs on the board in 6.3 overs.
Dwayne Bravo then joined Nicholas Pooran in the middle and the duo scripted an astounding recovery. They added a brisk 45 runs for the fourth wicket before the skipper perished in the 13th over.
Pooran remained the top-scorer for MI Emirates with a 28-ball 36 which featured three boundaries and a six.
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Bravo then put together a brief partnership with Tim David before falling victim to Blessing Muzarabani in the 16th over after scoring a cautious 30 off 28, laced with two boundaries and a six.
David then joined forces with Kieron Pollard and the pair bolstered MI Emirates’ total with a brisk stand that yielded 45 runs in 26 deliveries.
Tim David perished in the final over after a 21-ball 29 while Pollard remained unbeaten with a swashbuckling 27. He conceded 14 deliveries and smashed three boundaries and a six.
Daniel Worrall was the pick of the bowlers for the Giants with 3/15 while Muzarabani bagged two wickets.
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In return, Gulf Giants’ batting unit failed completely against a disciplined MI Emirates bowling attack and folded on a meagre 118 in 18.2 overs.
Giants’ No.9 Chris Jordan provided a notable resilience with a quickfire cameo. He smashed two boundaries and three sixes on his way to a 15-ball 31.
Besides him, Usman Khan (26) and Chris Lynn (18) were the other significant contributors while seven of their batters failed to make it into the double figures.
Vijayakanth Viyaskanth claimed three wickets for MI Emirates, followed by Waqar Salamkheil and Akeal Hosein, who bagged two each.
Despite ending up on the losing side, Gulf Giants have a chance to make it into the ILT20 final as they take on Dubai Capitals in the second Qualifier on Thursday.
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