MI Emirates continued their winning surge in DP World ILT20 Season 4, handing table-toppers Desert Vipers a four-wicket defeat at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, with Shakib Al Hasan delivering a match-winning all-round show.

The win,  MI Emirates’ third in a row, lifts them back to second place on the points table.

On a tricky surface that rewarded patience and precision, Shakib set the tone with the ball, finishing with an outstanding 2 for 14, strangling the Vipers’ middle order and keeping the total well below par.

Desert Vipers could only manage 124/7, despite a gritty 35 off 34 balls from Dan Lawrence. Zahoor Khan (2 for 17) applied the squeeze at the death, while MI’s bowlers ensured boundaries were hard to come by all night.

The chase wasn’t without drama. MI Emirates stumbled early, slipping to 35/2 in the powerplay as Jonny Bairstow and Muhammad Waseem departed cheaply. The pressure continued through the middle overs, with wickets falling regularly.

Enter Kieron Pollard.

The skipper changed the game in the 15th over, smashing two towering sixes off Qais Ahmad to swing momentum firmly MI’s way. Pollard’s brisk 26 off 15 balls broke the back of the chase.

After Pollard’s dismissal, Shakib stayed ice-cool, anchoring the innings before striking the winning boundary to seal victory with 15 balls to spare, finishing on 17 off 25.

Earlier, the Vipers’ bowlers kept things tight. David Payne and Lockie Ferguson struck early, while Qais Ahmad and Dan Lawrence applied pressure in the middle overs. But MI’s experience and composure proved decisive.

What they said

Player of the Match Shakib Al Hasan said, “It was a surface that suited the spinners, and the focus was on hitting the right areas. Batting wasn’t easy either, so someone needed to anchor the chase. I was happy to do that.”

Vipers stand-in skipper Sam Curran added, “It was a tough, low-scoring surface. MI Emirates have high-quality spinners, and that made the difference.”

Brief scores

MI Emirates beat Desert Vipers by four wickets

• Desert Vipers: 124/7 (Dan Lawrence 35, Shakib Al Hasan 2/14, Zahoor Khan 2/17)
• MI Emirates: 128/6 in 17.3 overs (Kieron Pollard 26, Shakib Al Hasan 17)

Player of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan

Big Ticket, the Middle East’s largest and longest-running guaranteed raffle draw, has joined DP World International League T20 Season 4 as an Official Partner, bringing fans closer to dreams of luxury cars, gold, and cash prizes.

The 34-match T20 extravaganza, featuring six teams and some of the world’s top cricket stars, is underway across Dubai International Stadium, Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi), and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, concluding with the final on January 4, 2026. 

Tickets start at Dh20, with hospitality packages from Dh325 and the Sixes Lounge experience available at Dh395. Bookings can be done via Virgin Megastore.

DP World ILT20 Head of Partnerships Ishan Chopra said, “We are thrilled to welcome a UAE-born brand like Big Ticket to Season 4. Their legacy of turning dreams into reality aligns perfectly with our vision of fan-first experiences both on and off the field. Together, we aim to elevate excitement and engagement for all cricket fans.”

Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals shifted to Dubai

Due to rain forecasts in Sharjah, the Friday, December 19 match between Sharjah Warriorz and Dubai Capitals has been relocated to Dubai International Stadium, starting at 6:30pm. Ticket holders, however, will remain eligible for the raffle draw, which will now take place during the next Sharjah match on December 21 between the Gulf Giants and Dubai Capitals.

About Big Ticket:

• Launched in 1992 at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
• Offers cash prizes and dream luxury cars, with grand prizes now up to Dh35 million.
• Tickets for the Big Ticket Millionaire cost Dh500 (buy two, get one free), and Dream Car tickets cost Dh150 (buy two, get one free).
• Instagram: @bigticketauh | Facebook: Big Ticket Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders continued their upward momentum in DP World ILT20 Season 4 with a composed four-wicket win over Gulf Giants at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday, climbing from sixth to fourth on the points table.

Chasing 166, Knight Riders were powered by a fluent opening stand between Alex Hales (46 off 39) and Phil Salt (35 off 24), who added 61 runs in 44 balls to lay a solid platform. The chase was then finished calmly by Sherfane Rutherford (30 off 22) and Andre Russell (21 not out off 13), despite a late fightback from Tabraiz Shamsi, who claimed 3 for 23.

Earlier, leg-spinner Piyush Chawla delivered a match-winning spell of 4 for 27 to restrict the Giants to 165 for 7, neutralising Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s commanding 72 off 45 balls.

Salt set the tone early with aggressive strokeplay in the powerplay, including a 17-run over off Fred Klaassen that also took him past 8,000 T20 runs. Although Shamsi struck twice to briefly stall the chase, removing Salt and Liam Livingstone, Hales held firm through the middle overs.

Rutherford shifted momentum decisively with a flurry of boundaries off Moeen Ali, before Russell absorbed pressure late on. Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, the West Indian all-rounder sealed the chase with a towering six in the final over, finishing the match with four balls to spare.

Gulf Giants had earlier threatened a much bigger total after Gurbaz dominated the innings. The Afghan opener shared useful stands with Pathum Nissanka and James Vince before bringing up his half-century off just 32 balls. However, Chawla triggered a collapse in the middle and death overs, removing key batters and ensuring the Giants lost momentum sharply after reaching 132 for 4.

Player of the Match Chawla said his continued success came from “experimenting with angles and flight” to keep batters guessing, while Giants captain James Vince admitted his side fell “20 to 30 runs short” after a promising start.