By Anas Ahmed 
Banton, Pooran Steer MI Emirates to Emphatic 26-Run Triumph Over Dubai Capitals
In a thrilling contest at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, MI Emirates emerged victorious with a 26-run win over Dubai Capitals in the DP World ILT20. Despite a brilliant century by Shai Hope, the Capitals fell short in their chase of 188, marking MI Emirates’ first win of the season.
MI Emirates cruised to their first victory of the DP World ILT20 season, thanks to impactful knocks from Tom Banton and Nicholas Pooran. Their 26-run win over Dubai Capitals at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday was a testament to their balanced performance with both bat and ball.
Despite a scintillating century by Shai Hope (101 off 59 balls), the Dubai Capitals couldn’t chase down the target of 188, largely due to a game-changing over by Fazalhaq Farooqi, who dismissed two key players while conceding just three runs.
First Innings Highlights
MI Emirates’ innings began on a shaky note as Dushmantha Chameera claimed Kusala Perera early. However, Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem steadied the ship with a crucial partnership. Banton’s 74, laced with precision and power, laid a solid foundation. The explosive Nicholas Pooran took over in the middle overs, smashing six sixes in his rapid 59.
Olly Stone struck back for the Capitals, but the Emirates’ middle-order contributions ensured a challenging total of 187/7.
Second Innings Drama
Chasing 188, Dubai Capitals relied heavily on Shai Hope, who single-handedly kept their hopes alive with a commanding century. However, the lack of substantial support from other batsmen left the Capitals short. Alzarri Joseph and Waqar Salamkheil provided crucial breakthroughs, but it was Farooqi’s double strike in a pivotal over that sealed the game for MI Emirates.
Zahoor Khan’s miserly 19th over, conceding just one run, left the Capitals needing an improbable 36 in the final over, ultimately falling short.
Player Reactions
Shai Hope reflected on his century, stating, “A 100 always feels sweeter when you win. Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish it off.” Meanwhile, Tom Banton, the Player of the Match, said, “We needed someone to bat through, and today it was my turn. The pitch played well, and I’m glad to contribute to the win.”
Brief Scores MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals:
- MI Emirates: 187/7 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 74, Nicholas Pooran 59; Gulbadin Naib 3/27)
- Dubai Capitals: 161/6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 101, Brandon McMullen 16; Fazalhaq Farooqi 2/22)
MI Emirates‘ victory over the Dubai Capitals sets a strong tone for the rest of the DP World ILT20 season. Fans can look forward to more thrilling performances as the competition heats up!
Zainab Shafiq