By Anas Ahmed 
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders secured a commanding 37-run victory over Gulf Giants in the DP World ILT20 Season 3 at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Despite a record-breaking spell by Aayan Afzal Khan, who claimed 4/16, the Giants couldn’t chase down the Knight Riders’ imposing total of 176/9, with Michael Pepper’s half-century leading the charge.
Aayan Afzal Khan’s Historic Spell
Aayan Afzal Khan’s remarkable four-wicket haul set a new record for the best bowling figures by a UAE player in the history of ILT20. His spell, which dismantled the Knight Riders’ middle order, gave the Giants hope but wasn’t enough to tilt the game in their favor.
Khan’s wickets included key dismissals of Joe Clarke (24), Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell (12), and Sunil Narine, leaving the Knight Riders reeling at 131/6. However, the Knight Riders managed to push their score to 176/9 with contributions from the lower order.
Michael Pepper’s Match-Winning Performance
Michael Pepper’s quickfire 57 off 31 balls anchored the Knight Riders’ innings. He set the tone early with a flurry of boundaries, building a crucial 50-run partnership with Joe Clarke. Pepper’s aggressive batting ensured the Knight Riders maintained a strong run rate despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
In the final overs, the Knight Riders’ lower-order batters, including Laurie Evans, Jason Holder, and David Willey, chipped in with vital runs to set a challenging target.
Gulf Giants’ Struggle in Chase
In response, Gulf Giants faced an uphill battle after losing openers Adam Lyth and James Vince early in the powerplay. At 40/2, the Giants were under pressure, and the Knight Riders’ bowlers capitalized. Jordan Cox and Ibrahim Zadran attempted to stabilize the innings but fell to Sunil Narine and Ali Khan, respectively.
The middle-order duo of Gerhard Erasmus and Shimron Hetmyer couldn’t provide the necessary firepower, leaving the Giants at 96/6 in 14.1 overs. Despite a late effort by Mark Adair (19) and the tail, the Giants ended their innings at 139/8, falling 37 runs short.
Post-Match Reflections
Player of the Match, Michael Pepper, highlighted the conditions: “The ball came on nicely when it was hard, but it slowed down as the game progressed. It’s about finding your areas and capitalizing on them.”
Sunil Narine, captain of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, reflected on the win: “We could have pushed closer to 200, but losing wickets in clusters cost us. The team’s batting depth is a strength, and we’re looking to improve as we move forward.”
Zainab Shafiq