The Gulf Giants secured a convincing 79-run victory over the Sharjah Warriors in the 22nd match of the DP World ILT20 season 2 at the Dubai International Stadium. A blistering unbeaten 53 from Shimron Hetmyer and a four-wicket haul from young spinner Zuhaib Zubair were the key factors in the Giants’ triumph.
Hetmyer’s Heroics Power Giants to 187/6
Hetmyer, sporting his trademark white hair and number 189 jersey, tore apart the Warriors’ bowling attack. His 28-ball knock, laced with three boundaries and four sixes, electrified the crowd and propelled the Giants to a competitive 187/6. He stitched crucial partnerships with Gerhard Erasmus (35 runs) and Jamie Overton (25 runs) to lay the foundation for the win.
Zubair Spins Web Around Warriors
Chasing a challenging target, the Warriors’ batting faltered early. Openers Niroshan Dickwella and Joe Denly were dismissed off the first two balls of the innings. Zubair then took center stage, claiming four wickets for just 22 runs to dismantle the Warriors’ chase. Lewis Gregory’s 30 offered some resistance, but the Warriors were eventually bundled out for 108, falling well short of the target.
Giants Back in Top Four
The win propelled the Giants back into the top four of the points table, much to the delight of their skipper, James Vince. He praised Hetmyer and Overton for their batting heroics and highlighted the team’s renewed focus on winning matches.
Warriors Accept Defeat Gracefully
Sharjah Warriors skipper Tom Kohler-Cadmore acknowledged his team’s shortcomings and vowed to bounce back in their next encounter. He credited the Giants for their strong performance and urged his team to learn from the defeat.
Player of the Match: Zuhaib Zubair
The young Emirati spinner was deservedly named Player of the Match for his match-winning spell. He expressed his gratitude to his bowling coach, Ottis Gibson, for believing in him and providing him with the confidence to perform.
Brief scores:
Gulf Giants 187 for 6 in 20 overs (James Vince 20, Chris Lynn 45, Shimron Hetmyer 53n.o, Jamie Overton 25, Sean Williams 3 for 46); Sharjah Warriors 108 in 17.3 overs (Tom Kohler-Cadmore 39, Lewis Gregory 30, Aayan Afzal Khan 2 for 16, Zuhaib Zubair 4 for 22)
Gulf Giants beat Sharjah Warriors by 79 runs.
