Shai Hope (74 not out off 53 balls) and Gulbadin Naib (80 off 47) gave the spectators full value of their money in a 135-run partnership that helped the Capitals not only win but also establish a new record for the highest successful chase in the history of the tournament, which is in its third season. In a high-scoring thriller as panned out at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Shai Hope and Gulbadin Naib clubbed regal run-chase half-centuries after Sikandar Raza’s tight bowling spell.
Dubai Capitals secured a record-breaking 8-wicket win against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) in ILT20 on Sunday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, as the crowd was entertained with a high-scoring contest that saw 410 runs in the match and ended with just a ball to spare.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : The Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium aids batters more than the bowlers. The ball tends to come onto the bat nicely and striking is expected to be better during the death overs. Pacers have had quite meagre assistance. However, the spinners will get value on a deck that has a bit of turn in it.
The pitch at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi typically provides favorable conditions for batters. While pacers often enjoy some assistance during the early overs, the surface tends to favor batting as the game progresses. Spinners, however, are expected to play a crucial role, especially during the second innings.
Toss : Dubai Capitals skipper Sikandar Raza won the toss and chose to field with few new faces and Adam Rossington in the Playing XI. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders skipper Sunil Narine batting first made no changes in the playing XI.
Charith Asalanka Blasts 38-Ball 74 In Late Fury As Sikandar Raza restricts ADKR to 203 for 4 in 20 overs
Batting first, Kyle Mayers and Andries Gous got the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders off to a flier with a 63-run opening partnership in just 5.3 overs. Mayers clattered four boundaries and two sixes in his fiery 21-ball 35 while Gous made 27 off 17 balls before both cricketers were dismissed in quick succession by Sikandar Raza and Obed McCoy respectively.
Earlier, during the ADKR innings, Sikandar Raza bowled crafty spell of spin bowling to take 2 for 24, but it didn’t prove enough to restrict the Knight Riders’ batting line-up. Besides Asalanka’s batting heroics, openers Kyle Mayers (35 off 21) and Andries Gous (27 off 17), as well as Alishan Sharafu (36 off 21) played brisk knocks to help push the total past the 200-run mark.
Michael Pepper at number three failed to sustain Knight Riders’ early momentum as the top-order batter became the second wicket from Raza’s economical four-over spell (2-24). In spite of Dubai Capitals’ fightback with the ball, the Knight Riders raced to 100-3 around the halfway stage of the innings.
Forming forces at 82-3, middle-order batters Charith Asalanka and Alishan Sharafu shared 105 runs together for the fourth wicket until the latter retired himself out. While Sharafu made 36 from 21 balls before making his way out of the field, Asalanka top-scored in the innings by smearing 74 runs off just 38 deliveries with six boundaries and four huge sixes.
Charith Asalanka was eventually caught down by Haider Ali off Dushmantha Chameera (1-37) in the slog overs as the Knight Riders reached a monumental 203-4 by the completion of their innings.
Gulbadin Naib, Shai Hope star in Dubai Capitals’ record chase to beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 8 wickets
Chasing 204, Dubai Capitals opener Adam Rossington smeared four boundaries in his 13-ball 21 while forming a 41-run opening partnership with Shai Hope in just 4.2 overs. Shortly after Rossington was done-in by Andre Russell, Hope led the Capitals’ charge alongside number three batter Gulbadin Naib.
The two cricketers muscled the Capitals past the 100-run mark in less than 12 overs, and brought up their century partnership in just 63 balls for the second wicket.
Shai Hope (74 not out off 53 balls) and Gulbadin Naib (80 off 47) gave the spectators full value of their money in a 135-run partnership that helped the Capitals not only win but also establish a new record for the highest successful chase in the history of the tournament, which is in its third season.
The duo hit 6 sixes, 5 of which were smashed by Naib, and 13 fours between them. Earlier, Charith Asalanka set up ADKR’s impressive total with his stroke-filled knock of 74 runs from just 38 deliveries, including 6 fours and 4 sixes. The Capitals got the start they needed to pull off a record chase, as Adam Rossington and Hope added 41 runs in just 4.2 overs, when the former was dismissed by Andre Russell for a 13-ball 21.
Gulbadin Naib mounted 80 runs from just 47 balls with four boundaries and five sixes to make lightwork of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ 203-run total. The hard-hitting Afghan cricketer Gulbadin Naib crafted 135 runs for the second wicket with fellow half-centurion Shai Hope, until he was caught out by Andre Russell off Jason Holder at the brink of the finish line.
Thereafter, it was a show put up by Gulbadin Naib and Hope, with ADKR bowlers being sent to all parts of the ground. But the Capitals lost Gulbadin Naib at a crucial juncture, in the 18th over, when Jason Holder sent him back to keep his team in the game. But Dasun Shanaka (17 not out off 8 balls) made a mockery of a stiff ask in the last 12 balls of the run-chase, smashing Russell (1 for 38) for two fours and a six in the 19th over and finally overhaul the target in 19.5 overs.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Sunil Narine the losing ADKR skipper said : We needed our batting to come up. It was a good pitch. We needed to pick wickets. Asalanka played a brilliant role. He batted really well. Someone has to win and someone has to lose. It came down very close. Just wanted to take in the key factors so that it doesn’t happen again.
Sikandar Raza the winning DC skipper said : I have got a scan. We will know tonight or tomorrow. My hand is quite sore. It was swelling. Just wanted to be on the safe side. Happy with the record chase. We did a lot of things on the field. The last five overs, the momentum shifted. Shai has been brilliant.
The real shift in momentum happened in the last 4-5 overs. Chameera conceded 6 in the last 2 overs. He was expensive in the first 2 overs. But he picked his game up. Nice to pick up things at the right time.
Gulbadin Naib Player of the Match for 80 runs said : 200 is never easy to chase. Just waiting for the right balls and loose balls. T20 cricket is all about entertainment. So, was waiting for my time. Every over we were talking to each other. I tried to seize the momentum.
I saw they were worried and went for it. I am happy batting at any position from 1-10. As an athlete, you should be prepared for every situation. I dedicate this award to Ali Reza Asahi, a legendary body builder from Afghanistan.
Dubai have put up a wonderful show. They have chased this down in a tense finish at the end. The second wicket partnership between Shai Hope and Gulbadin Naib set it up for the Capitals. Initially when the chase started it seemed it was too much. Gulbadin Naib at one time was batting on 27 off 27 balls. But he started to up his rate after that and Capitals were unstoppable post that.
Holder bowled three dots on the trot in the 18th over and some pressure was building. But Shanaka eased off the jitters with some clean and innovative striking in the second last over to ensure only 7 was needed off the final over. Hope finished it off the second last ball to win it for the Capitals. The Abu Dhabi team had a strong bowling line up but have failed to defend a total which seemed enough.
Dubai Capitals have won three on the bounce now. They had lost three on the bounce prior to that. And on the other hand ADKR’s loss win progression has continued. They would be gutted with this loss as it seemed it was enough. But they would want to bounce as they fourth on the table now. Dubai are number 2 on the table and would look to continue their ascent.