Sharjah Warriorz aced a tense pursuit over Knight Riders [Source: @ILT20Official/x]
Sharjah Warriorz aced a jittery pursuit against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in match number 25 at the Sharjah International Stadium on Thursday, January 30. The outcome marked the fourth win for the Warriorz this ILT20 2025 season.
Here’s the timeline of how Sharjah Warriorz and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders panned out in Sharjah:
Warriorz vs Knight Riders Highlights: Kyle Mayers Unleashes Early Boundary Barrage
Despite losing opening partner Andries Gous for a first-ball duck to Sharjah Warriorz fast bowler Adam Milne, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders opener Kyle Mayers counterattacked with a sequence of six boundaries and two sixes during rapid partnerships with Joe Clarke (15 off 8), Roston Chase (33 off 21) and Alishan Sharafu (17 off 23).
Mayers’ batting mayhem ensured the Knight Riders reached 60-2 by the end of the opening powerplay, and to its team 100 in less than 11 overs.
Adam Milne and Adam Zampa kept striking from the other end with the wickets of Joe Clarke and Roston Chase respectively to keep the Warriorz in the hunt. Mayers also made his way back to the dugout after scoring 56 runs off 35 balls courtesy of a mistimed shot off Zampa in the 14th over of the innings.
Warriorz vs Knight Riders Highlights: Jason Holder Muscles Fiery Slog Overs Cameo
With the quick wickets of Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Alishan Sharafu after the dismissal of half-centurion Kyle Mayers, hard-hitting lower-order batter Jason Holder muscled one boundary and two huge sixes in his fiery 17-ball cameo of 26 runs.
While he nicked one towards wicketkeeper Tim Seifert off Dilshan Madushanka at the death, Holder’s blazing innings catapulted the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to a competitive 161-8 from 20 overs.
For the Sharjah Warriorz, Adam Milne (3-33) and ace spinner Adam Zampa (3-27) both picked up three wickets in the innings.
Warriorz vs Knight Riders Highlights: Kohler-Cadmore, Charles Get Warriorz Off To A Flier
Chasing 162, Sharjah Warriorz openers Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Johnson Charles got their team off to a flier with a 66-run opening partnership in less than five overs. Kohler-Cadmore carted four boundaries and three huge sixes to contribute with 39 of those runs from 21 balls before falling to Knight Riders spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth.
While Rohan Mustafa was knocked over by Sunil Narine early in his innings, unbeaten Charles went on to top-score for the Warriorz with a 35-ball 65. By the time of his dismissal to Narine, the Warriorz raced to 133-3 in just 13 overs to require only 29 runs from the remaining seven overs.
Warriorz vs Knight Riders Highlights: Ashton Agar Eases Nerves After Knight Riders Fightback
Following the prized exit of Johnson Charles, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders bowlers made late inroads in the Warriorz chase by strangulating their run-flow and by picking up the crucial wickets of Jason Roy, Tim Seifert and Ethan D'Souza in quick succession.
With Sunil Narine (2-20) and Jason Holder (2-22) leading the Knight Riders’ fightback alongside Terrance Hinds (1-12), Ashton Agar eased down the tensing nerves of the Sharjah Warriorz through his 12-run unbeaten cameo.
The Australian cricketer ensured the Warriorz cruised past the Knight Riders with four wickets and an over to spare to jump back into the top four of the ILT20 2025 points table.