The Sharjah Warriors’ disastrous batting collapse was set up by Ravi Bopara (4/15), Joshua Little (3/17), and David Willey (2/16), who led the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to a decisive seven-wicket victory in the 23rd match of the DP World ILT20 season 2 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
After being bowled out for 75 in 17 overs, the Warriors batsmen put up yet another dismal show of resiliency. In the ninth match of this season, they scored one run more than MI Emirates’ total of 74 all out on the same field. Warriors thus had the second-lowest total of the competition.
Pitch Report and Toss Update
Sharjah Cricket Stadium’s pitch is regarded as decent for batting and promises a balanced match that favors pacers. Additionally, spinners receive some support from the surface. The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders won the toss and chose to field because opting to chase is the preferred approach.
Sharjah Warriors’ batters kept falling like a deck of cards against Joshua Little and David Willey
The march of their top-order batsmen to the dug-out started with opener Niroshan Dickwella, who was caught by Alishan Sharafu at short mid-wicket for four after falling to the fourth ball of the first over bowled by David Willey while trying a lap shot. Liam Livingstone just had five balls to hit two runs before slicing Joshua Little onto his stumps.
The situation got worse when Laurie Evans was smashed by opener Johnson Charles straight at mid-on, scoring one. Seven runs were scored with the loss of three wickets. Joining his captain, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sean Williams advanced the total to 26 when Williams, on 5, was superbly bowled by Little after being out-caught, despite the ball popping out of his palm on his first attempt.
The majority of the runs being scored by Kohler-Cadmore fell to a stunning ball from Little, making him the fifth wicket to go. After nipping away, the ball struck the top of Kohler-off stump Cadmore’s for 19. Half of the team was in dugout at a score of meager 33 runs.
PC: ESPNcricinfo
Ravi Bopara bundled out the remaining batters
In the ninth over, Daniel Sams struck two boundaries against Andre Russell. After hitting three runs off nine balls in the tenth over, Joe Denly fell, raising Imad Wasim to Evans at long last. When James Fuller hoisted Ravi Bopara to Little at long-off for three, he became the sixth batter to fall for a single digit.
Warriors fell to 66 for 8 when Daniel Sams, who had been keeping the scoreboard ticking with a knock of 24, unexpectedly went for a reckless shot against Bopara and had his stumps crash. Russell was picked by Maheesh Theekshana early on to offer his catch off Bopara for two.
Playing in his first encounter of the tournament, Adil Rashid of England became Bopara’s fourth and last victim for 10 runs. The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders bowlers were outstanding; they broke the top-order of the Warriors right away. Ravi Bopara got four wickets and demonstrated mastery of his tricks. Imad Wasim took one, Joshua Little took three, and David Willey took two wickets.
PC: ESPNcricinfo
The openers set the game for the Knight Riders
After Joe Clarke and Michael Pepper began with a 54-run partnership in 5.2 overs, the Knight Riders quickly reached the mark and won in 10.1 overs. Muhammad Jawadullah of the UAE struck twice to remove Pepper, who was caught at cover-point by Joe Denly. Alishan Sharafu was also caught at cover-point for a duck.
Jawadullah continued by removing Clarke for 34 after he was caught behind for 34 runs, but with 59 balls remaining, Sam Hain (9*) and Laurie Evans (3*) guided the Knight Riders to their target without any further hiccups. Jawadullah took three wickets for five runs.
In addition to having less to defend, the Warriors’ bowlers also had a few good times with the ball. Muhammad Jawadullah’s bowling performance, which included three wickets despite his somewhat late introduction, was a major plus point for them.
After this victory, the Knight Riders’ NRR has shifted to positive. The Warriors, meanwhile, are currently last in the standings and have seen a decline in their NRR following back-to-back lackluster games in the last two days. If they want to have any chance of making the playoffs, they need to undertake a lot of introspection. With 10 points right now, ADKR are almost through to the next round.
One thought on “SW vs ADKR: Ravi Bopara, Joshua Little & Willey’s Sensational Bowling Registered A Massive Win Over The Sharjah Warriors”