Akeal Hosein’s masterful spin bowling led MI Emirates to a dominant 106-run victory over Sharjah Warriors in the DP World ILT20. Hosein ripped through the Warriors batting order with a stunning 4-23, dismissing them for a paltry 74 runs in just 12.1 overs.
Emirates Set Strong Total:
Earlier, Andre Fletcher (42) and Kusal Perera (42) built a solid 93-run partnership to power Emirates to 180/7 in their 20 overs. Skipper Nicholas Pooran also contributed with a brisk 37. Muhammad Jawadullah was the lone bright spot for the Warriors with 3-31.
Hosein Wreaks Havoc:
The warriors’ chase crumbled from the start as Hosein struck early. He dismissed Johnson Charles and Tom Kohler-Cadmore for ducks in the first over, setting the tone for his destructive spell. Later, he claimed three quick wickets in the eighth over, including Denly, Basil Hameed, and Daniel Sams, to virtually end the contest.
Warriors Struggle to Respond:
Guptill (17) and Dickwella (22) offered brief resistance, but the Warriors’ batting never recovered from the early blows. Chris Woakes survived a review for LBW off Hosein, preventing the left arm from a hat-trick, but the damage was already done.
Pooran Praises Bowling:
Emirates captain Pooran praised his bowlers for the win, saying, “We felt 170 would do the job for us. It was a slightly difficult track for batters. This is the second game where we have bowled a team for less than 100.”
Kohler-Cadmore Calls for Positivity:
Warriors skipper Kohler-Cadmore acknowledged their struggles and called for a more positive approach in the next game, saying, “You don’t go out there and panic. Most teams will bowl first here. We should not be losing too many wickets in the powerplay.”
Hosein Reflects on the Spell:
Player of the Match Hosein explained his strategy, stating, “I thought I would bowl fuller. Bowling the first over, I thought it was about execution. But it’s just about making the assessment. I had to spin more balls. Unfortunately, I was so close to picking up a hat-trick.”
Brief scores:
MI Emirates 180 for 7 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 42, Andre Fletcher 42, Nicholas Pooran 37, Tim David 20, Muhammad Jawadullah 3 for 31); Sharjah Warriors 74 in 12.1 overs (Martin Guptill 17, Niroshan Dickwella 22, Akeal Hosein 4 for 23, Trent Boult 2 for 11, Waqar Salamkheil 2 for 3)
MI Emirates beat Sharjah Warriors by 106 runs.
Player of the Match: Akeal Hosein of MI Emirates
