By Anas Ahmed 
The MI Emirates secured a crucial 28-run victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in an exhilarating contest at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Led by impactful performances from Romario Shepherd and skipper Nicholas Pooran, the Emirates now sit just two points behind the table leaders in the standings.
MI Emirates Set a Challenging Target
Opting to bat first, the MI Emirates got off to a steady start as Kusal Perera (23) and Muhammad Waseem (38) shared a 42-run partnership. Despite a promising start, the middle order faltered with wickets falling at regular intervals. The likes of Tom Banton (9), Kieron Pollard (5), and Dan Mousley (6) struggled to find rhythm.
However, Nicholas Pooran anchored the innings with a fluent 49 off 30 balls, hitting six boundaries and a six. After his dismissal, it was Romario Shepherd who stole the show in the death overs. Shepherd smashed an unbeaten 38 off just 13 deliveries, including three sixes and four boundaries, to propel the MI Emirates to a competitive total of 186/6.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Fall Short Despite Russell’s Heroics
In reply, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders started strongly with Kyle Mayers (22 off 14) and Andries Gous (34 off 26) adding 39 runs for the first wicket. However, Dan Mousley’s brilliance in the field ran Mayers out, triggering a collapse.
The MI Emirates’ bowlers then took control:
- Romario Shepherd dismissed two batters in quick succession.
- Akeal Hosein, Waqar Salamkheil, and Zahoor Khan delivered timely breakthroughs.
The Knight Riders found themselves in trouble at 56/4 after the Powerplay. Despite a fighting partnership between Andre Russell (37* off 23) and Sunil Narine (13), the team couldn’t recover from their early setbacks. Narine’s dismissal in the 18th over sealed their fate as the Knight Riders were restricted to 158/9, handing MI Emirates a well-deserved victory.
Player of the Match: Romario Shepherd
Shepherd, who shone with both bat and ball, expressed his satisfaction:
“It feels good. We knew how important this game was. I stayed calm, knowing Pooran was there, and just tried to contribute in the final overs.”
Captain’s Reactions
- Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates): “A great team effort tonight. Shepherd’s performance in the death overs gave us the edge, and our bowlers executed the plan perfectly.”
- Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders): “We played good cricket in phases, but the slow over-rate hurt us in the field. Shepherd’s power hitting made the difference.”
The MI Emirates’ balance of explosive batting and disciplined bowling proved too strong for the Knight Riders. With this win, they remain firmly in playoff contention.
Brief Scores
MI Emirates 186/6 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 49, Romario Shepherd 38 not out, Muhammad Waseem 38, Jason Holder 2 for 38, Ali Khan 2 for 58)
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 158/9 in 20 overs (Andre Russell 37 not out, Andries Gous 34, Romario Shepherd 2/14, Alzarri Joseph 2/33, Waqar Salamkheil 1/13)
Player of the Match: Romario Shepherd
MI Emirates beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 28 runs
Zainab Shafiq