The Dubai Capitals (DUB) have earned their place in the playoffs of the first-ever season of the ILT20, thanks to their victory over MI Emirates (EMI) in the last league match. The two teams will face off once more on February 9th, with the winner advancing to the second qualifier on February 10th and the loser being eliminated from the tournament.
Eliminator Preview:
MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals In their last match, MI Emirates chose to rest their captain Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, opting to have stand-in skipper Nicholas Pooran lead the charge. While Pooran played well, it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for the team. Bowlers Dasun Shanaka and Sikandar Raza are in top form and Dwayne Bravo, their leading wicket-taker for the season, will need to step up to prevent Dubai from scoring heavily.
On the other hand, Dubai will look to continue their winning streak against MI Emirates, despite some recent lackluster performances. The presence of in-form Australia international Adam Zampa can give them a boost in the crucial stages of the tournament. Batters Raza and Shanaka will need to take responsibility and deliver, given their experience in high-stakes matches.
Match Details:
MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals, Eliminator, ILT20 2023 Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah Date & Time: February 9, 07:30 PM IST Telecast & Live Streaming: ZEE Network, ZEE5
Pitch Report:
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium pitch has been slower, requiring batters to spend time in the middle to adjust to the conditions. The winning captain is expected to bowl first, and a score above 160 will be considered good on this wicket.
Probable Playing XIs:
MI Emirates (EMI): Andre Fletcher, Muhammad Waseem, Basil Hameed, Nicholas Pooran(w), Najibullah Zadran, Kieron Pollard(c), Dwayne Bravo, Jordan Thompson, Trent Boult, Imran Tahir, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Dubai Capitals (DUB): George Munsey, Robin Uthappa(w), Sikandar Raza, Rovman Powell(c), Dasun Shanaka, Yusuf Pathan, Chamika Karunaratne, Hazrat Luqman, Adam Zampa, Akif Raja, Fred Klaassen
Key Players to Watch:
Batter – Kieron Pollard: MI Emirates skipper Kieron Pollard is in top form, with 337 runs from eight matches and is the second-leading run-scorer of the tournament. He will play a crucial role in the eliminator, particularly given the unpredictable pitch, and will be expected to lead by example.
Bowler – DJ Bravo: Veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has 11 wickets from seven matches this season and will be looking to add to his tally as his team strives to secure their place in the second qualifier of ILT20.
Prediction:
MI Emirates to win the match.
