Jordan, Banton all-star for Giants as English power sinks MI Emirates
Chris Jordan celebrates a wicket (Source: ILT20)
The Gulf Giants registered their fifth win of the ongoing ILT20 2023 season by overcoming MI Emirates off the last ball of the match. Giants’ English import Chris Jordan was adjudged as ‘Player of the Match’ for claiming three Emirates wickets, including that of opener Muhammad Waseem.
Chris Jordan strangles MI Emirates with three-fer
Gulf Giants skipper James Vince’ decision to bowl first was instantly backed by his new-ball bowler Dominic Drakes. The speedster removed Emirates opener Andre Fletcher off the opening over of the match, and returned to take another wicket during the death overs of the innings.
Emirates’ innings mainly revolved around wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran, who top-scored with 42. While the Kieron Pollard-led side threatened to chalk up a big score up until Pooran’s stay at the crease, Giants speedster Chris Jordan strangulated the scoring rate with three key wickets and a smart runout at the end.
The cricketer conceded just 12 runs off his unfinished four-over spell, and was assisted by Drakes, David Wiese and Rehan Ahmed, with each of the three bowlers claiming two wickets apiece.
Banton’s anchoring, Hetmyer’s finisher recipe of Giants tense win
Tom Banton led Giants response at the top with a fluent 45. The cricketer formed a 61-run opening stand with skipper James Vince, before the latter departed for a run-a-ball 26. Chris Lynn also scored a crucial 28 at number three, however his untimely dismissal tensed up the run-chase in the death overs.
A seemingly-easy win for the Giants became a last-ball affair, courtesy of some tight bowling display from the Emirates bowlers. The equation even boiled down to three runs being required off the last ball, before Shimron Hetmyer slogged a low full toss over midwicket for a six.
Brief scores:
MI Emirates: 139 (19.5)
Nicholas Pooran 42 (29), Muhammad Waseem 29 (25);
Chris Jordan 3-12, David Wiese 2-14
Gulf Giants: 143-5 (20)
Tom Banton 45 (39), Chris Lynn 28 (26);
Dwayne Bravo 2-32, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1-31
Gulf Giants won by five wickets
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