ILT20 2025, Qualifier 2 Review: Bowlers power MI Emirates to easy win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and MI Emirates clashed in Qualifier 2 of the ILT20 2025 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday, January 2. The Emirates won the toss and elected to field on what looked like a slow surface.

The hero of the previous match, Michael Pepper, could not create havoc today as he was out for one at the start of the second over. Brandon McMullen joined opener Alex Hales but the former could not last long either as Muhammad Rohid trapped him leg before wicket for 13.

Liam Livingstone paired up with his countryman and saw off the powerplay without further damage, ending it at 31/2. By this time, it was evident that the pitch was not an easy one to bat on as the ball stopped and held.

Livingstone (4 off 10) was dismissed soon after as Rohid struck for the second time. The Knight Riders were now desperately in search of stability and momentum. Hales and Alishan Sharafu started to build a partnership as the duo knocked the ball around on a wicket where teeing off was not easy.

Just when the momentum was looking to shift towards the Knight Riders, Hales (29 off 36) succumbed to AM Ghazanfar. This was the break that the Emirates needed and they extinguished any hope that the Knight Riders' fans harboured of a competitive score.

Ghazanfar (3/24) struck crucial blows as the famed Knight Riders' all-rounders failed to contribute much for their team. In the end, the Emirates restricted their opposition to 120/8. The Knight Riders should thank Sharafu as the UAE batter scored an important 50* off 40 balls, without which the total score would have been much less.

The Emirates had a similar start to their chase as the Knight Riders had to their innings. West Indian Andre Fletcher was out cheaply to Ajay Kumar for just five runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Banton joined Muhammad Waseem as the duo played cautiously to avoid any mishaps.

The Emirates were in a stable position at the end of the powerplay (26/1). Just when the partnership looked set to chip off the target steadily Sunil Narine struck, trapping Waseem (10 off 14) LBW.

The Englishman was now joined by Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and the pair did not look back from here on. Given that the required run rate was never going beyond their comfort zone, the pair looked settled as singles and doubles were good enough for the cause for the time being.

The partnership kept on progressing without much risk-taking as the Knight Riders' chances started getting slim. The Emirates began accelerating after the 10-over mark with the 100 coming up in the 15th over. It was just a matter of time now for the team to cross the finish line, but Shakib fell on the doorstep for a well-made 38 off 24 balls.

Banton (63* off 53) saw the team home by seven wickets and 23 balls remaining. Ajay Kumar was the best bowler for the Knight Riders with figures of 2/13 in three overs. Shakib, for his all-round performance, was declared the Player of the Match.

The Emirates will now play the Desert Vipers in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, January 4.