MI Emirates booked their place in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 final with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Qualifier 2 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. The win sets up a blockbuster final clash against the Desert Vipers on January 4 at the Dubai International Stadium.
After a disciplined bowling display restricted the Knight Riders to 120 for 8, MI Emirates chased down the target comfortably with 23 balls to spare, thanks to a match-winning partnership between Tom Banton and Shakib Al Hasan.
Bowlers Lay the Foundation
MI Emirates were clinical with the ball after winning the toss. Allah Ghazanfar led the attack with impressive figures of 3 for 24, while Muhammad Rohid (2 for 19) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (2 for 30) kept the pressure on throughout the innings.
The Knight Riders struggled to build momentum early. Michael Pepper was run out in the second over following a sharp direct hit from Andre Fletcher, and Brandon McMullen fell soon after. Powerplay runs were hard to come by, with the Knight Riders limping to 31 for 2 after six overs.
Liam Livingstone endured a tough stay, scoring just 4 off 10 balls, while spinners tightened the screws in the middle overs. A brief revival came through a 47-run partnership between Alex Hales (29) and Alishan Sharafu, before Ghazanfar removed Hales late in the 14th over.
Ghazanfar returned decisively in the 18th over, dismissing Jason Holder and Sunil Narine in quick succession. Sharafu remained unbeaten, scoring a well-compiled 50 off 40 balls, but the Knight Riders could only manage 120 for 8 at the end of their 20 overs.
Banton and Shakib Seal the Chase
MI Emirates’ chase began cautiously as Andre Fletcher was dismissed early, leaving the side at 26 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem struggled to rotate the strike initially, with Knight Riders bowlers applying early pressure.
The turning point came when Shakib Al Hasan joined Banton at the crease. The experienced all-rounder shifted momentum with a decisive 17-run over off Liam Livingstone, striking a six and two fours. The duo added 82 runs off just 53 balls, bringing up their 50-run partnership in only 29 deliveries.
Banton reached his half-century in the 15th over, eventually finishing 62 not out off 53 balls, while Shakib contributed a fluent 38 off 24 balls. MI Emirates wrapped up the chase in 16.1 overs, confirming their place in their second ILT20 final in four seasons.
Post-Match Reactions
Player of the Match Shakib Al Hasan praised the team’s composure in a pressure encounter.
“It was a crucial game for us, and winning the toss helped. The bowlers were outstanding and kept picking up wickets. With the bat, the focus was on batting time and managing overs, especially against the spinners. In pressure games, losing wickets makes it very hard to recover.”
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain Jason Holder reflected on the campaign despite the defeat.
“It was a challenging wicket early on, and we struggled to build momentum. Considering where we were midway through the tournament, it was still a solid effort overall. We came up short tonight, but the commitment throughout the campaign was excellent.”
Brief Scores
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 120/8 in 20 overs
(Alishan Sharafu 50*, Alex Hales 29; Allah Ghazanfar 3/24, Muhammad Rohid 2/19)
MI Emirates: 120/3 in 16.1 overs
(Tom Banton 62*, Shakib Al Hasan 38; Ajay Kumar 2/13)
Result: MI Emirates won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan
MI Emirates will now face Desert Vipers in the ILT20 Season 4 final on January 4, as they aim to lift their first league title.
