Sharjah Warriorz kept their DP World ILT20 Season 4 playoff hopes alive with a tense four-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in a low-scoring contest at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Chasing a modest target of 135, the Warriorz held their nerve to cross the line on the final ball, thanks to a composed unbeaten 42 from James Rew and a vital all-round contribution from Sikandar Raza. The win lifts Sharjah to six points with two matches remaining, tightening the race for the remaining playoff spots.

Earlier, the Warriorz bowlers laid the foundation with a blistering start that left the Knight Riders reeling at 10 for four inside four overs. Taskin Ahmed struck twice in the powerplay, while Wasim Akram produced a historic spell, including the first wicket maiden by a UAE player in ILT20 history, to dismiss Liam Livingstone for a duck.

Despite the early collapse, Sherfane Rutherford mounted a counterattack with a gritty 44 off 36 balls. He was supported by Alishan Sharafu and later Unmukt Chand, whose 52-run stand with Rutherford steadied the innings. However, regular strikes from Sikandar Raza and Dwaine Pretorius prevented the Knight Riders from building momentum.

A late flourish from Andre Russell and Jason Holder briefly lifted Abu Dhabi’s total, but Adil Rashid cleaned up the tail in the final over to finish with figures of 3 for 18, restricting the Knight Riders to 134 for nine.

In reply, Sharjah lost early wickets as Jason Holder and Ajay Kumar struck inside the powerplay. Tom Kohler-Cadmore anchored the chase with a measured 30, but tight spells from Sunil Narine and Olly Stone kept the scoring in check, leaving the Warriorz 58 for three at the halfway stage.

After Kohler-Cadmore was dismissed, Rew and Raza stitched together a crucial 57-run partnership to bring Sharjah back on track. Raza fell in the 18th over, setting up a nervy finish, with 12 runs required off the final over. Rew, alongside Adil Rashid, calmly guided the Warriorz home on the last delivery.

Adil Rashid was named Player of the Match for his decisive spell at the death. “It was pleasing to contribute in a situation where things could easily have gone the other way,” he said. “Having played against Jason and Andre for a long time helped with the plans.”

Knight Riders captain Jason Holder admitted his side fell short with the bat. “We didn’t put enough runs on the board, although full credit to our bowlers for taking it deep,” he said. “We needed to keep wickets intact in the powerplay.”

Brief scores:
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 134/9 (Sherfane Rutherford 44, Unmukt Chand 24; Adil Rashid 3/18, Wasim Akram 2/12, Taskin Ahmed 2/41)
Sharjah Warriorz 135/6 (James Rew 42; Tom Kohler-Cadmore 30, Sikandar Raza 28)

Sharjah Warriorz won by four wickets

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).
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