MI Emirates rout Capitals to clinch maiden ILT20 title

Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter

A sublime display of batting, led by the captain Nicholas Pooran helped MI Emirates (MIE) outclass the Dubai Capitals by 45 runs in the final to lift the DP World ILT20 trophy in Dubai.

Pooran and Fletcher smashed breezy fifties after Muhammed Waseem’s blitzkrieg knock, as MIE posted a huge total of 208/3 before restricting Capitals to 163/7.

In their pursuit of the colossal target, the Capitals got off to the worst possible start as they lost the first wicket with zero runs on the board.

Last match hero Leus du Plooy was trapped in front of the wickets by Hosein. Tom Abell, and Tom Banton, who tried to revive the innings with a 37-run partnership for the second wicket.

Abell was taken by Pollard off Rohid as the Capitals lost the second wicket. The Capitals kept losing the wickets at regular intervals and failed to get the partnerships going.

Tom Banton and Sam Billings were stumped by Pooran off Viyaskanth and Salamkheil, respectively, in quick succession as the Capitals were reduced to 101/4.

MEI also dropped some catches, but the Capitals could not capitalize on the chances. Sikander Raza became the second victim of Viyaskanth before Boult removed Rovman Powell to leave the Capitals tottering at 133/6.

Jason Holder played a 24-run cameo to entertain the crowd, when the equation had come down to 69 needed off 18 balls. He was clean bowled by Boult as the Kiwi pacer picked up the second wicket. The Capitals could manage to muster only 163/7.

Earlier, swashbuckling UAE batsman Muhammad Waseem played a stupendous knock to give MI Emirates a fiery start.

He made his intentions clear right from the word go, tonking Kuggeleijn for a six in the very first over. Seeing Waseem in a brutal mood, Perera also flexed his muscles to collect 14 runs from the next over. The two big overs put the MIE in a dominant position.

Holder was brought on attack as the first change to stop the flow of the runs. But Waseem did not show any signs of slowing down. The over turned out to be more productive as Waseem whipped 14 runs off Holder’s overs with the help of one four and a six.

Kuggeleijn came to bowl from the other end. But the change of ending did not bring any change to the fortunes of the struggling Capitals.

Both the batsmen were dealing in boundaries, and the singles were a rare commodity. Both the batsmen tore apart the Capitals attack.

They did not spare any bowlers. Anything loose outside the stumps was thrown away to the boundary line. Waseem pulled Kuggeleijn to bring up the fifty for MIE in just 3.3 overs. They were also assisted by some sloppy fielding by the Capitals.

Both batsmen added 77 runs for the first wicket to set the tone for a huge total. Zahir Khan got rid of Waseem to bring some respite to the Capitals camp. Waseem holed out to Powell in a bid to clear the ropes but did not get the elevation right as Powell completed a clean catch. He scored a 24-ball 43 with the help of three fours and three sixes.

Waseem’s dismissal put the brakes on the scoring as MIE could score only 14 runs in the next three overs. Sikander Raza had Perera caught by du Plooy to give the second breakthrough to the Capitals. Perera’s innings featured six hits to the fence.

With the two wickets, it looked like the Capitals’ bowlers had staged a comeback. But the Capitals were oblivious to the storm, which was about to blow them away.

Pooran played a captain’s knock as he took the charge in his hands from the front. Pooran shared a couple of fifty-run partnerships with Fletcher and Pollard.

Pooran and Fletcher added 56 runs in just 33 deliveries for the third wicket to consolidate the innings and take the score to 156/3.

Fletcher began slowly and shifted the gear to accelerate his innings gradually. He brought up his fifty with a six off Kuggeleijn in just 33 balls. His knock was studded with three fours and four sixes.

After the departure of Fletcher, Pooran got back into his groove as he, along with Pollard, collected a whopping 49 runs in the last three overs. Pooran was severe as he raced to 57 in 27 balls from 39 off 22, smacking six sixes and two fours as MIE posted a huge total of 208/3.