MI Emirates reach ILT20 final with seven-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
MI Emirates secured their place in a second ILT20 final with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Qualifier 2. A disciplined bowling performance restricted ADKR to 120 for 8, before a decisive 82-run partnership between Shakib Al Hasan and Tom Banton guided the chase to completion in the 17th over.
Opting to bat, the Knight Riders lost wickets consistently. Michael Pepper was run out in the first over, and Muhammad Rohid Khan removed Brandon McMullen and Liam Livingstone to leave them at 38/3. Alex Hales and Alishan Sharafu attempted a rebuild, but progress was slow, reaching only 50 at the halfway mark.
AM Ghazanfar broke the stand, having Hales caught for 29. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Ghazanfar then stifled any late surge, with Ghazanfar taking two wickets in an over. Sharafu reached an unbeaten fifty off the final ball, but ADKR finished on a below-par 120/8. Rohid Khan was excellent, finishing with 2 for 19.
MI Emirates' chase started shakily, losing Andre Fletcher early and managing only 26 in the powerplay. Muhammad Waseem was dismissed lbw by Sunil Narine in the seventh over, bringing Shakib Al Hasan to the crease.
Shakib attacked from the outset, using sweeps and reverse sweeps against the spinners. Tom Banton provided steady support, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries. Their partnership steadily eroded any hope of an ADKR comeback. Banton accelerated, hitting four fours in an over off Jason Holder to reach his half-century. Shakib fell for 38 attempting a big shot, but Banton remained unbeaten on 63 to seal the win.
Brief scores:
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 120/8 in 20 overs (Alishan Sharafu 50*; AM Ghazanfar 3-24, Muhammad Rohid Khan 2-19) lost to MI Emirates 121/3 in 16.1 overs (Tom Banton 63*, Shakib Al Hasan 38) by 7 wickets.
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