MI Emirates booked their place in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 final with a commanding seven-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Qualifier 2 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday night.
A disciplined bowling performance, led by Allah Ghazanfar’s three-wicket haul, set the platform before a calm and clinical chase guided by Shakib Al Hasan and Tom Banton sealed the deal with plenty to spare. The win sets up a blockbuster final against Desert Vipers on January 4 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Asked to bat first, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders never truly found momentum. Early pressure from the MI Emirates bowlers paid off immediately, with Michael Pepper run out in just the second over after a sharp direct hit from Andre Fletcher. Brandon McMullen followed soon after, trapped LBW, as the Knight Riders stumbled through the powerplay.
Boundaries were hard to come by on a testing surface, and the squeeze tightened when Liam Livingstone miscued a shot in the seventh over. Despite brief resistance from Alex Hales and Alishan Sharafu, the Knight Riders struggled to build partnerships as MI Emirates’ spinners controlled the middle overs.
Sharafu stood firm amid the collapse, playing a composed unbeaten knock of 50 off 40 balls, but wickets continued to fall at the other end. Ghazanfar returned late to deliver the decisive blows, removing Jason Holder and Sunil Narine in the same over to leave the Knight Riders restricted to 120 for eight, a total that always looked below par in a knockout contest.
Chasing 121 for a spot in the final, MI Emirates got off to a cautious start as Abu Dhabi Knight Riders searched for early breakthroughs. Andre Fletcher fell cheaply, and the pressure remained during the powerplay with runs coming at a steady but controlled pace.
Tom Banton anchored the innings, absorbing pressure before shifting gears at the right moment. After Muhammad Waseem’s dismissal, Shakib Al Hasan joined Banton and turned the match firmly in MI Emirates’ favour. The experienced all-rounder attacked the spinners, picking boundaries with ease and rotating the strike efficiently.
The pair stitched together an 82-run partnership that effectively ended the contest. Banton brought up his half-century in measured fashion, while Shakib played the perfect supporting role, ensuring there were no late surprises.
MI Emirates crossed the line in the 17th over, completing the chase with 23 balls to spare and confirming their second appearance in an ILT20 final.
Player of the Match Shakib Al Hasan credited the bowlers for setting the tone, saying the early wickets made the chase far more manageable. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders skipper Jason Holder admitted his side struggled to adapt to the conditions but praised his team’s overall campaign.
With confidence high and momentum firmly on their side, MI Emirates now turn their focus to the showdown against Desert Vipers, with the Season 4 title firmly within reach.
