MI Emirates bolster qualification bid with top-of-the-table win

On a sluggish Dubai pitch, MI Emirates secured a four-wicket victory over table-toppers Desert Vipers, strengthening their own knockout qualification prospects.

A strong bowling performance, led by Shakib Al Hasan (2-14) and Zahoor Khan (2-17), restricted the Vipers to 124/7. In response, MI Emirates' chase was shaky before middle-order partnerships guided them to the target. With this win, MI Emirates are second with 10 points from eight games, two ahead of third-placed Dubai Capitals.

Desert Vipers lost early wickets, stumbling to 52/4 at the halfway stage. A 41-run partnership between Jason Roy and Dan Lawrence for the fifth wicket provided some stability, but the innings faltered late, finishing at 124/7.

In the chase, MI Emirates were in trouble at 53/4 by the eighth over. Sanjay Krishnamurthi and Shakib Al Hasan steadied the innings with a 26-run partnership. After Shakib's dismissal, Kieron Pollard accelerated, smashing 26 off 15 balls to bring the equation down to 13 off 24. Shakib returned to bat and saw the team home with more than two overs to spare.

Brief Scores: Desert Vipers 124/7 in 20 overs (Dan Lawrence 35*; Shakib Al Hasan 2-14, Zahoor Khan 2-17) lost to MI Emirates 128/6 in 17.3 overs (Kieron Pollard 26; Matiullah Khan 2-18, Dan Lawrence 1-13) by 4 wickets.