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ILT20 2025 Knight Riders vs Emirates Highlights: Pollard Blitz In Vain As Holder, Myers Strangle Emirates

Aakash Saini∙ Updated: Jan 25 2025, 12:28 AM

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders players celebrating a wicket [Source: @ILT20Official/x]Abu Dhabi Knight Riders players celebrating a wicket [Source: @ILT20Official/x]

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders stunned defending champions MI Emirates at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in match number 21 of the ILT20 2025 season. Jason Holder and Kyler Mayers led the demolition job for the Knight Riders in an exhilarating evening on January 24.

Here’s the timeline of how Knight Riders vs Emirates panned out in Abu Dhabi:

Knight Riders vs Emirates Highlights: Alzarri Joseph Induces Jittery Knight Riders Start

Alzarri Joseph knocked over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders opener Kyle Mayers for a sluggish 11 in the fourth over of the match, and dismissed number three Michael Pepper off the very next delivery to strike twice for the MI Emirates in the powerplay overs.

Mayers’ opening partner Andries Gous counterattacked for a while from his end with a swift 18-ball 27. However, the well-set USA batter failed to get going as he nicked one towards Nicholas Pooran off Waqar Salamkheil (1-37) at the end of the eighth over. Charith Asalanka cracked 32 runs off 28 balls with three boundaries and a six but the Sri Lankan batter also made his way back to the sheds a while later, courtesy of Zahoor Khan (1-27).

Following a jittery start at the top, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders reached 79-4 in 11.3 overs.

Knight Riders vs Emirates Highlights: Alishan Sharafu Empowers Knight Riders To 182

Alishan Sharafu at number five composed a regal half-century during the backend of the innings, scoring 55 runs in all from just 38 deliveries with seven boundaries and a six. Before becoming Fazalhaq Farooqi’s lone victim of the evening, the cricketer shared a cunning 72-run partnership with Roston Chase (20 off 13) until the latter retired himself out.

Alzarri Joseph (3-32) picked up his third wicket of the match in the form of Andre Russell in the penultimate over, but a seven-ball 22*-run cameo from Jason Holder blazed the Knight Riders to a monumental 182-7 at the end of the innings.

Knight Riders vs Emirates Highlights: Emirates Lose Top Four Inside Powerplay

Chasing 183, the MI Emirates crashed to 36-4 inside the opening powerplay overs. For the Knight Riders, new ball paceman Kyle Mayers got the early wickets of both openers, Kusal Perera and Muhammad Waseem, and even added dangerman and Emirates captain Nicholas Pooran to his tally to claim exceptional figures of 3-25 from his three-over opening spell.

Englishman David Willey also struck with the new ball by getting rid of Tom Banton as the Emirates reached a sluggish 61-4 from nine overs.

Knight Riders vs Emirates Highlights: Vintage Pollard Knock In Vain As Emirates Fall Way Short

Kieron Pollard at number six muscled his way to 69 unbeaten runs from just 49 balls with four boundaries and four sixes to counterattack for the MI Emirates.

However, with lack of assistance from Dan Mousley (17 off 26) and Romario Shepherd (12 off 13), Pollard’s blitzkrieg went rendered in vain by Jason Holder (2-28) as the Emirates managed to haul just 140-6 to fall 42 runs short of their target.