The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders clinched their 2nd triumph of the DP World ILT20 Season 3, beating the Gulf Giants by 37 runs at a packed Dubai International Stadium on Sunday evening.Despite Aayan Afzal Khan’& rsquo; s shrewd four-wicket haul for simply 16 runs, which set a brand-new record for the very best figures by a UAE gamer in DP World ILT20 history, the Knight Riders posted 176/9, buoyed by Michael Pepper’& rsquo; s half-century.
Ibrar Ahmad, Jason Holder and Ali Khan each bagged 2 wickets to keep the Giants at bay.It was a tough getaway for the Giants batters as they lost both openers in the powerplay.
Adam Lyth was scalped by David Willey in the first over, while skipper James Vince who searched in great kind, miscued off Ibrar Ahmad for 14 runs in the 4th over.At 40/2 by the end of the powerplay, the Giants were falling well behind the formula.
The innings deciphered even more as Jordan Cox departed for 10 runs and Ibrahim Zadran was bowled by Sunil Narine after he had worked hard for 24 runs in 22 balls.At the ten-over mark, the Giants were wobbling at 62/4.
The onus was on Gerhard Erasmus and Shimron Hetmyer to guide another run chase however it was not to be.
Hetmyer had actually made 20 runs in 15 balls before he holed out to Sunil Narine off Super Sub Ali Khan.
Jason Holder then eliminated Gerhard Erasmus after the Namibian had actually collected 24 runs in 23 balls to leave ball game at 96/6 in 14.1 oversThe target showed too steep as Holder claimed his 2nd wicket through Mark Adair for 19 runs as the Giants ended up proceedings at 139/8.
In the first innings, an interesting powerplay for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders treated the fans to runs and wickets, ending up the stage at 60/2.
Kyle Mayers and Andries Gous took the initiative racing to 19 and 17 runs respectively, in 12 balls each.
The attack was stopped when Tymal Mills castled Kyle Mayers in the fourth over and Gous was caught behind off Wahidullah Zadran in the 5th over.Coming at number 4, Michael Pepper took flight early in the innings, creaming Mark Adair for 3 successive borders.
Pepper went on to log a 31-ball fifty consisting of 6 fours and a 6.
Along with the assistance of Joe Clarke, the pair built a 50-run partnership in 33 balls.It appeared like the Knight Riders were on track for a massive overall up until Aayan Afzal Khan turned the tide, returning enviable figures of 4 for 16 –-- the very best figures for a UAE player in the DP World ILT20 (the previous record holder was Zuhaib Zuhair with 4 for 22 for Gulf Giants versus Sharjah Warriorz in 2024).
Aayan opened his account when he tidied up Joe Clarke for 24 runs in the 11th over.
He followed it up with the wickets of Alishan Sharafu, Andrew Russell and Sunil Narine, of whom only Andre Russell made it to double figures with 12 runs.
At the end of Aayan’& rsquo; s spell, the Knight Riders were at 131/6 in 15 overs.In the death overs, Pepper was captured behind off Mark Adair for 57 runs, while Laurie Evans, Jason Holder and David Willey made small contributions.
True blessing Muzarabani snatched two wickets in Evans and Holder as the Knight Riders completed proceedings at 176/9.
Gamer of the Match, Michael Pepper said: “& ldquo; When I went in, when the ball was hard, it came on nicely.
Not too much bounce in the wicket.
Through the innings, it got slower and slower and began turning a bit more.
There is a great deal of impulse that enters, awaiting your areas and after that going from there.
We have a long batting order; everybody can hit it out of the ground, but it still needs to be the batters that score runs”& rdquo; Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain, Sunil Narine said: “& ldquo; We were constantly thinking two steps ahead and there were more hands on deck.
We might have gone more detailed to 200 after our start.
Losing wickets in clusters denied us which is something we can deal with continuing.
Our batting depth, it is an excellent issue.
You have players batting down the order who may be playing higher otherwise.
The guys are willing, and it has to do with them attempting to reconcile whatever position they get.”& rdquo; Monday & rsquo; s matchDubai Capitals will take on Desert Vipers on Monday, January 20, at the Dubai International Stadium at 7pm.
The match will be transmitted live throughout Afghanistan by Ariana Television.
A pre-match program will begin at t reside on Ariana Television from 7pm.
The pre-match program will begin at 6.30 pm Kabul time.The full broadcasting schedule is as below: The post ILT20: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat Gulf Giants by 37 runs initially appeared on Ariana News.