Sharjah Warriorz completed a sensational comeback in the tournament as they became the third team to seal a spot in the playoffs at the DP World ILT20 Season 3. Buoyed by a stellar knock from Tom Kohler-Cadmore, the Warriorz defeated the MI Emirates by eight wickets in a must-win match, here at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The result also knocks the Gulf Giants out of the race for a playoff berth, while the Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are in contention for the fourth spot. 

Tom Kohler-Cadmore stood out with 91 runs in 52 balls in an endeavour that saw seven fours and five sixes. Matthew Wade, playing his first game of the season, also made his presence felt with a breezy knock of 44 runs in 25 balls. The victory not only also placed Sharjah Warriorz into the playoffs for the first time in the history of the competition but also marked the team’s first win against the MI Emirates across three seasons. 

Earlier in the day, Tom Banton extended his purple patch to remain unbeaten on 84 runs and drove the MI Emirates to 173/5 despite Tim Southee’s frugal spell of 1 for 22 in four overs.

Though the Warriorz lost Johnson Charles early for only 14 runs, they had a lucrative powerplay with Jason Roy smoking 18 runs off Alzarri Joseph in the sixth over to finish the phase at 59/1 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore unbeaten on 24 runs at the other end. 

While Roy was run out soon after for 22 runs 15 balls, Opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore was in fine form, cracking boundaries at will. Kohler-Cadmore smashed Waqar Salamkheil for a six and four on his way to a 29-ball fifty that comprised four fours and three sixes, in the 10th over.  

Australia’s Matthew Wade joined Kohler-Cadmore in a 102-run stand that came in just 55 balls. Wade took the pressure of Kohler-Cadmore, taking up the onus of finding the boundaries.  At the 13 over mark, the Warriorz needed 52 runs in 42 balls and were firmly in the driver’s seat.  

The equation was further whittled down to 24 runs needed in 30 balls as Wade struck three sixes including two off Alzarri Joseph. The Warriorz eventually romped home in 17.2 overs. 

Batting first, MI Emirates lost both openers in the powerplay, up against an economical spell from Warriorz skipper Tim Southee. Muhammad Waseem got a start but couldn’t convert falling to Southee for 21 runs. Meanwhile Andre Fletcher was run out for 11 runs as they finished the powerplay at 45/2 

Tom Banton and Kusal Perera took the innings ahead with a crucial 75-run stand in 53 balls. The pair scored conservatively until they took Ashton Agar for 16 runs in the 12th. Banton followed it up with two consecutive sixes off Zampa in the next over to increase the run rate significantly.  

Perera looked dangerous but he holed out to deep square leg off Dilshan Madushanka in the 15th over, bringing the score to 120/3.  

The death overs were important for the Emirates, netting 47 runs as Banton cruised to his half century in 35 balls that included four boundaries and four sixes. MI Emirates captain, Nicholas Pooran was unable to replicate his exploits from the previous game as he was dismissed by Adam Milne for eight runs in the 18th over. Banton remained unbeaten on 84 runs in 51 balls, as the MI Emirates posted 173/5. 

Player of the Match, Tom Kohler-Cadmore said: “We’ve been playing for three years, and we haven’t been to the finals, that was the goal going into this season. Tim Southee bowled well and set it up today. I just want to put the pressure back on them, sometimes they’ll get the better of me, but I tend to do well if I get a start, and I had some luck as well. Wade played some fine shots and eased us home. We’ve had a great group; the boys have been together even when we lost heavily.” 

MI Emirates captain, Nicholas Pooran said: “I thought we were 10-15 runs short. We allowed them to get back into the game too many times, both with the ball and the bat. They batted well, and our fielding wasn’t great in terms of execution. We missed a few chances and were sloppy in the field. They also bowled well into the wicket and put us under pressure.” 

Brief Scores

Sharjah Warriorz beat MI Emirates by eight wickets

MI Emirates 173/5 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 84 not out, Kusal Perera 31, Muhammad Waseem 21, Tim Southee 1 for 22, Dilshan Madushanka 1 for 33, Adam Milne 1 for 40) 

Sharjah Warriorz 176/2 in 17.2 overs (Tom Kohler-Cadmore 91 not out, Matthew Wade 44 not out, Jason Roy 22, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1 for 22) 

Player of the Match: Tom Kohler-Cadmore