All-round Knight Riders outclass Sharjah Warriors to register first win in ILT20
Tom Kohler Cadmore and Evin Lewis (Source: Twitter)
Discipline day with the ball, followed by Joe Clarke’s match winning half century with the bat helped Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to beat Sharjah Warriors by five wickets in Match 28th of the ongoing International League T20 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. After losing almost everything, Knight Riders managed to register their first win of the tournament in the final fixture of their campaign.
Knight Riders restrict Sharjah to 130/9
After being asked to bat first, Sharjah Warriors got off to a decent start, scoring 49 and lost one wicket at the end of the powerplay. Tom Kohler Cadmore and Evin Lewis were scoring briskly, eyeing an at least 180 target. However, Akeal Hossain soon removed Lewis before he did any further damage and the Warriors finished the first ten overs with 74 for 2.
Moeen Ali, at four, tried to keep the runs coming but was soon sent back at 9, followed by a direct hit to run out the dangerous looking Cadmore and the Warriors got themselves out of the plot. The rest of the batters could not finish the innings well and Sharjah could only reach 130 for nine at the end of twenty overs.
Akeal Hosein and Sunil Narine bowled economical spells, grabbing a wicket each. Matiullah Khan gave away 24 off his three but managed two wickets and a run out to dismiss the dangerous Cadmore.
Joe Clarke’s half century steers Knight Riders to win
Paul Stirling and Joe Clarke (Twitter)
Chasing a paltry 131, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders got off to a scintillating start, scoring 71 in the first six overs, thanks to some brilliant stroke making from Joe Clarke, who completed his half century in just 23 balls. Paul Stirling, at the other end, played second fiddle to Clarke and the duo added 86 runs for the first wicket.
Clarke departed after making 54 off 32 and things got slow down during the middle overs. Stirling kept the scoreboard ticking and got out with Knight Riders being just ten runs behind. Sharjah did pick some wickets at the end but Knight Riders got over the line comfortably with more than three overs to spare.
Brief Scores
Sharjah Warriors: 130/9 (20 Overs)
Tom Kohler-Cadmore 46 (40), Chris Benjamin 24 (18);
Matiullah Khan 2/24, Sunil Narine 1/14;
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 133/5 (16.4 Overs)
Joe Clarke 54 (32), Paul Stirling 39 (36);
Muhammad Jawadullah 3/24, Marcus Stoinis 1/21
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders won by five wickets.
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