Warriors down Giants in thriller, Vipers sting AD Knight Riders

Tom Kohler-Cadmore smashed an unbeaten 56-ball 83 to guide Sharjah Warriors to a nail-biting three-wicket victory over Gulf Giants in the second match of the double-header of ILT20 in Dubai.

After restricting the Giants to 174/7, the Warriors went over the line off the last delivery of the match with three wickets remaining.

The Warriors needed 10 runs off the eventful last over. Ayan Afzal Khan bowled two dots before Kohler-Cadmore hit a six off the third.

He took a couple off the fourth and fifth balls, which was again a dot, as the Warriors needed two off the last one. Kohler-Cadmore stole a cheeky double to take them past the target.

Earlier, defending a fighting total of 174, Giants bowlers gave them a dream start. Johnson Charles and Jason Roy were sent back in quick succession.

Johnson was dismissed by Worrall when he failed to read a slower one and spooned a simple catch at the covers to Saghir Khan. Johnson hit two sixes in his 4-ball 12 cameo.

The Warriors lost their second wicket within a span of five deliveries as Roy edged an outgoing delivery straight into the hands of the wicket-keeper. However, the umpire was not convinced, but a confident Adair asked for the review, which went in his favour.

Kohler-Cadmore and Rohan Mustafa knuckled down to mend the innings. They added 105 runs for the third wicket to bring the faltering innings back on track.

Kohler-Cadmore began slowly, but once he got set, he changed his gears. He took 16 runs off the eighth over, bowled by Rehan, with the help of a six and four.

Mustafa was playing a perfect foil to his partner, who seemed to have taken the responsibility of spurring the run rate to keep the Warriors in the hunt. Mustafa kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and doubles to rotate the strike.

Kohler-Cadmore reached his fifty with a single off Adair in just 32 deliveries. They kept the Giants’ bowlers at bay as the Warriors reached 91 in 10 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Warriors were relentlessly marching towards their target, and Giants needed to break the partnership to keep their hopes alive before it was too late.

Mustafa also shifted his gears and hit Blessing Muzarabani for a four and a six off consecutive balls to bring up a 100-run partnership. But the Zimbabwean pacer had the last laugh as he got rid of Mustafa off the next ball to bring some respite to the Giants’ camp.

The dismissal of Mustafa opened the floodgates for the Giants’ bowlers. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Karim Janat were dismissed cheaply as the Warriors lost three wickets in quick succession. The Warriors were reduced to 127/5 from 119/2.

The match was evenly poised as Kohler-Cadmore kept waging the battle single-handedly and brought the equation down to 10 needed off six balls with three wickets remaining.

The Warriors took 14 runs off the penultimate over with the help of a six and a four to remain in the hunt. Earlier, Rehan Ahmed of England smashed a blitzkrieg 46 to anchor the innings after the Gulf Giants had lost two wickets cheaply.

The Giants were off to a stuttering start as they lost the wicket of the captain, James Vince, in the first over with just five runs on the board.

Southee struck early in his first over to get rid of the dangerman and give his team the first breakthrough. Southee struck again, sending the other opener, Adam Lyth, back to the pavilion as the Giants lost two wickets with just 27 runs on the board.

Rehan, along with Jordan Cox, started to rebuild the innings gradually. Both the batsmen applied themselves according to the condition and added a vital 57 runs for the third wicket. Rehan, who was more brutal of the two, missed his fifty by a whisker.

He belted five fours and two sixes in his 27-ball 46 before being dismissed by Harmeet Singh of Indian origin.

Cox fell prey to Milne as the Giants were reduced to 104/4 before Shimron Hetmyer took charge to lead from the front. The West Indian played with determination and took the innings forward on his shoulders.

He struck a 23-ball 36 before Southee sent him back for his third scalp of the match. Mark Adiar and Saghir Khan played quick-fire cameos of 20 and 11 to propel the scores to 174/7.

In the first match of the day, Desert Vipers defeated Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) by seven wickets.

After restricting ADKR to 166/5, Vipers reached the target for the loss of just three wickets.

Mohammad Abdullah

Tom Kohler-Cadmore smashed an unbeaten 56-ball 83 to guide Sharjah Warriors to a nail-biting three-wicket victory over Gulf Giants in the second match of the double-header of ILT20 in Dubai.

After restricting the Giants to 174/7, the Warriors went over the line off the last delivery of the match with three wickets remaining.

The Warriors needed 10 runs off the eventful last over. Ayan Afzal Khan bowled two dots before Kohler-Cadmore hit a six off the third.

He took a couple off the fourth and fifth balls, which was again a dot, as the Warriors needed two off the last one. Kohler-Cadmore stole a cheeky double to take them past the target.

Earlier, defending a fighting total of 174, Giants bowlers gave them a dream start. Johnson Charles and Jason Roy were sent back in quick succession.

Johnson was dismissed by Worrall when he failed to read a slower one and spooned a simple catch at the covers to Saghir Khan. Johnson hit two sixes in his 4-ball 12 cameo.

The Warriors lost their second wicket within a span of five deliveries as Roy edged an outgoing delivery straight into the hands of the wicket-keeper. However, the umpire was not convinced, but a confident Adair asked for the review, which went in his favour.

Kohler-Cadmore and Rohan Mustafa knuckled down to mend the innings. They added 105 runs for the third wicket to bring the faltering innings back on track.

Kohler-Cadmore began slowly, but once he got set, he changed his gears. He took 16 runs off the eighth over, bowled by Rehan, with the help of a six and four.

Mustafa was playing a perfect foil to his partner, who seemed to have taken the responsibility of spurring the run rate to keep the Warriors in the hunt. Mustafa kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and doubles to rotate the strike.

Kohler-Cadmore reached his fifty with a single off Adair in just 32 deliveries. They kept the Giants’ bowlers at bay as the Warriors reached 91 in 10 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Warriors were relentlessly marching towards their target, and Giants needed to break the partnership to keep their hopes alive before it was too late.

Mustafa also shifted his gears and hit Blessing Muzarabani for a four and a six off consecutive balls to bring up a 100-run partnership. But the Zimbabwean pacer had the last laugh as he got rid of Mustafa off the next ball to bring some respite to the Giants’ camp.

The dismissal of Mustafa opened the floodgates for the Giants’ bowlers. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Karim Janat were dismissed cheaply as the Warriors lost three wickets in quick succession. The Warriors were reduced to 127/5 from 119/2.

The match was evenly poised as Kohler-Cadmore kept waging the battle single-handedly and brought the equation down to 10 needed off six balls with three wickets remaining.

The Warriors took 14 runs off the penultimate over with the help of a six and a four to remain in the hunt. Earlier, Rehan Ahmed of England smashed a blitzkrieg 46 to anchor the innings after the Gulf Giants had lost two wickets cheaply.

The Giants were off to a stuttering start as they lost the wicket of the captain, James Vince, in the first over with just five runs on the board.

Southee struck early in his first over to get rid of the dangerman and give his team the first breakthrough. Southee struck again, sending the other opener, Adam Lyth, back to the pavilion as the Giants lost two wickets with just 27 runs on the board.

Rehan, along with Jordan Cox, started to rebuild the innings gradually. Both the batsmen applied themselves according to the condition and added a vital 57 runs for the third wicket. Rehan, who was more brutal of the two, missed his fifty by a whisker.

He belted five fours and two sixes in his 27-ball 46 before being dismissed by Harmeet Singh of Indian origin.

Cox fell prey to Milne as the Giants were reduced to 104/4 before Shimron Hetmyer took charge to lead from the front. The West Indian played with determination and took the innings forward on his shoulders.

He struck a 23-ball 36 before Southee sent him back for his third scalp of the match. Mark Adiar and Saghir Khan played quick-fire cameos of 20 and 11 to propel the scores to 174/7.

In the first match of the day, Desert Vipers defeated Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) by seven wickets.

After restricting ADKR to 166/5, Vipers reached the target for the loss of just three wickets.