With thunderous fifties from West Indians Andre Fletcher and Nicholas Pooran, MI Emirates chased down 152 runs in overs to win the eliminator match by 8 wickets against Dubai Capitals in Sharjah on Thursday (February 9. With this win, MI Emirates will now face Gulf Giants in the 2nd Qualifier to make it to the finals of the inaugural International League T20.
An unbeaten 104-run stand off only 61 deliveries for the third wicket involving Nicholas Pooran (66* off 36; three 4s, five 6s) and Andre Fletcher (68* off 45; four 4s, four 6s) helped MI chase down a target of 152 in 16.4 overs as they stormed into Qualifier 2 which they will play against Gulf Giants on Friday.
Although MI lost Muhammad Waseem in the first over of the chase, as he chipped a catch to mid-off, they had a productive powerplay thanks to Fletcher’s aggressive batting.
Fletcher struck two fours and a six in a Reece Topley over which yielded 18 runs, as MI managed 41 in the first six overs.
Fletcher also hit a six off Dasun Shanaka soon after the powerplay but the bowler bagged the wicket of Lorcan Tucker to end a 46-run opening stand.
This brought Pooran to the crease and he got into the act with a boundary off Akif Raja before hitting three sixes in an over off Shanaka and followed it up with a four off Sikandar Raza to power MI to 81/2 at the halfway stage of their innings.
There was no respite for the Capitals bowlers as Pooran and Fletcher kept the big hits coming, with the two scoring a six apiece off Raza in the 12th over to power MI past 100.
Fletcher’s maximum off Raza, which was his third, helped him bring up a 33-ball fifty.
Pooran then hit a four and a six off Jake Ball to bring down the required rate under 5.3 by the end of the 13th over.
Pooran brought up his fifty off 25 balls with a couple off Ravi Bopara before clearing the fence twice off the same bowler.
The two batters extended their partnership past 100 and remained unbeaten as they powered their side over the line in the 17th over.
Earlier, Trent Boult and Rashid Khan – making his ILT20 debut after a stint in the SA20 with MI Cape Town – powered a disciplined effort with the ball to restrict the Capitals to a sub-155 total.
Boult dismissed Robin Uthappa early and conceded only eight runs from his first three overs as the Capitals managed only 28 in the powerplay, and 59 in the first 10 overs, with George Munsey and Sikandar Raza scoring at less than a run a ball.
The much-needed impetus came in the 12th over as Fazalhaq Farooqi conceded 21, with Munsey striking three fours and a six. He got to a 42-ball fifty with a boundary off Rashid but fell soon after, trapped leg-before by the Afghanistan legspinner.
It was only in the 15th over when the Capitals crossed 100, with Dwayne Bravo and Rashid sneaking in quiet overs. Raza struck two fours and Rovman Powell hit a six in an over off Zahoor Khan but Boult ended the Zimbabwe batter’s stay and finished with economical figures despite being hit for a maximum by Powell.
Yusuf Pathan’s stay was a short one as he became Rashid’s second scalp. Only 21 came in the last three overs as MI Emirates bowled well in the death.
Brief scores: Dubai Capitals 151/5 in 20 overs (George Munsey 51; Trent Boult 2-19, Rashid Khan 2-20) lost to MI Emirates 152/2 in 16.4 overs (Andre Fletcher 68*, Nicholas Pooran 66*; Jake Ball 1-23) by 8 wickets.