MI Emirates’ Pooran, Fletcher jolts Capitals; to face Giants in qualifier
Fletcher and Pooran in action against Capitals (Source: ILT20)
MI Emirates wrecked the Dubai Capitals in a lopsided ILT20 2023 eliminator in Sharjah. Vice-captain Nicholas Pooran led his team's response with the bat as they punch their tickets for the upcoming Qualifier 2 clash against a high-flying Gulf Giants unit.
Trent Boult, Rashid Khan drag Capitals down after Munsey’s blitz
Dubai Capitals lost in-form opener Robin Uthappa cheaply before his partner George Munsey launched a counter-attacking partnership with Sikandar Raza. The Scotland cricketer piled up a calculated 51, while Raza and Rovman Powell contributed with crucial 30s in the middle overs.
Though the Capitals looked settled for a big total before Munsey’s dismissal, Emirates’ foreign imports Trent Boult and Rashid Khan dragged down their scoring rate at the death. The two bowled out their quota and conceded just 39 runs of their eight combined overs. Boult and Khan also claimed two wickets each in the innings, while Dwayne Bravo sent Powell back to the pavilion in the penultimate over.
Fletcher, Pooran flatten Capitals with run-chase perfection
Despite losing opener Muhammad Waseem in the first over of their response, the MI Emirates kept afloat with the required rate. Moreover, following Lorcan Tucker’s dismissal a while later, Andre Fletcher formed a scintillating stand with Nicholas Pooran, where the two plundered sparkling half-centuries.
Both Fletcher and Pooran unfurled identical scores, albeit with different strike-rates, and stayed unbeaten to guide the Emirates past the finishing line. While the opening batter faced 45 deliveries to drop his 68-run onslaught, the latter scored a 36-ball 66* ladened with five sixes and three blazing boundaries.
The Emirates eventually completed their demolition job over the Capitals with 20 balls still intact in the contest. They will now face the Gulf Giants in Qualifier 2 at the Dubai International Stadium on February 10.
Brief scores:
Dubai Capitals: 151-5 (20)
George Munsey 51 (43), Sikandar Raza 38 (34)
Trent Boult 2-19, Rashid Khan 2-20
MI Emirates: 152-2 (16.4)
Andre Fletcher 68* (45), Nicholas Pooran 66* (36)
Jake Ball 1-23, Dasun Shanaka 1-24
MI Emirates won by eight wickets
 "Aakash Saini")
