By Anas Ahmed 
David Willey and Jason Holder powered the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to a commanding 30-run victory against Sharjah Warriorz in the DP World ILT20 Season 3 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. Willey’s three-wicket haul and Holder’s four-wicket spell dismantled the Warriorz’s batting lineup, ensuring the Knight Riders defended their total of 159/5.
Batting first, the Knight Riders overcame early setbacks thanks to a late blitz from Andre Russell and Laurie Evans, who shared an unbeaten 50-run partnership. Russell’s explosive 24 off 12 balls and Evans’ steady 39 not out guided the team to a competitive total. Kyle Mayers set the tone with a rapid 21, but it was the death-over fireworks that sealed the Knight Riders’ innings.
In response, the Warriorz faltered early, losing Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Jason Roy to Willey in the opening overs. Despite Johnston Charles’ attempt to counterattack, the team struggled to build partnerships. Holder’s precision dismantled the middle order, while Rohan Mustafa and Keemo Paul offered brief resistance. Tim Southee‘s late surge with 24 runs was not enough as the Warriorz were bowled out for 129 in 19.3 overs.
Player of the Match David Willey emphasized his focus on swinging the new ball and staying a step ahead of batters. “The scoreboard dictates the strategy, and I always aim to read the game well,” he said.
Knight Riders’ Victory Details:
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 159/5 (Laurie Evans 39*, Andre Russell 24*, Adam Milne 2/37, Adil Rashid 2/14)
- Sharjah Warriorz: 129 all out (Tim Southee 24, Keemo Paul 21, Jason Holder 4/23, David Willey 3/19)
Zainab Shafiq