Ghazanfar, Pollard help seal second spot for MI Emirates

MI Emirates secured second place in the ILT20 with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Dubai Capitals, chasing down 123 with 20 balls to spare.

Dubai Capitals Innings

After being put in to bat, Dubai Capitals started with four boundaries in the first three overs. The introduction of spin in the fourth over, through AM Ghazanfar, slowed the scoring. Shakib al Hasan broke through first, dismissing Shayan Jahangir, before Ghazanfar removed Sediqullah Atal in his second over.

Dan Mousley then claimed the wicket of Rovman Powell, following an earlier run-out of Leus du Plooy in the same over. Arab Gul Momand took the key wicket of Jordan Cox, leaving the Capitals at 53 for 5 at the halfway mark.

James Neesham provided some resistance with a brisk 21, including three boundaries, before offering a return catch to Ghazanfar. The Afghan spinner also dismissed David Willey in the same over, reducing the Capitals to 84 for 7. A 28-run partnership between Mohammad Nabi (22*) and Scott Currie helped the Capitals reach 122/8.

Ghazanfar finished with 3 for 28, while Shakib al Hasan took 1 for 11.

MI Emirates Chase

MI Emirates began aggressively, with Muhammad Waseem striking 18 runs in the first over off David Willey. Andre Fletcher added 14 runs in Willey's second over. Despite the early onslaught, Haider Ali dismissed Waseem in the seventh over, and Fletcher was run out after a scratchy 21.

After a boundary drought of 23 balls following Tom Banton's six in the ninth over, Kieron Pollard broke the shackles with a six off Waqar Salamkheil. Pollard then unleashed a brutal assault, smashing Salamkheil for three sixes, a four, and a two in a 30-run over.

With only 10 runs needed from five overs, Banton hit two boundaries to seal the victory. Pollard remained unbeaten on 44*, while Banton finished on 28*.

Brief Scores:
Dubai Capitals 122/8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Nabi 22*, James Neesham 21; AM Ghazanfar 3-28, Shakib al Hasan 1-11) lost to MI Emirates 126/2 in 16.4 overs (Kieron Pollard 44*, Tom Banton 28*; Haider Ali 1-14) by eight wickets.