The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders take on the Gulf Giants in a crucial mid-table match.
With two victories from five games, the Knight Riders are tied with the Giants atop the points table, having played one more game than all other clubs except the MI Emirates. The Knight Riders lost to MI Emirates in both meetings but prevailed over the Desert Vipers in both games. Their previous matchup with the Dubai Capitals went differently than planned. They set up a mammoth 183 on the board, but by the 17th over of the chase, they allowed the Capitals batsmen to close things up.
The Giants easily defeated the Warriors in their first game, but they fell short against the MI Emirates and Desert Vipers in their next two games. However, they turned the corner with a victory over Dubai Capitals, ensuring that their poor performance didn’t worsen the situation. Both sides enter this game to win to increase their prospects of making it to the tournament’s later stages.
Opening batsman Alishan Sharafu found his form again, defeating the Vipers with a spectacular 82*. A day later, he followed it up with a strong 37 against the MI Emirates. In the same game, Michael Pepper and Sam Hain both scored runs, but Andre Russell’s blistering 46* off 17 balls down the order ensured that the Knight Riders would finish well.
This season, the large Jamaican has now scored over 40 runs twice. After a fantastic BBL season with the Perth Scorchers, another big hitter, Laurie Evans, has failed to settle into the ILT20. Evans blasted 67* against the Capitals. The side’s bowling isn’t hitting enough, which is a greater worry. No other bowler has performed well yet, save from Sunil Narine, who has been outstanding with the ball thus far, and Ali Khan, who has taken five wickets in four games.
Their futile attempt to prevent MI Emirates from pursuing 189 was indicative of this. Imad Wasim was withdrawn from the attack and never returned after a disastrous 14-run opening over. After giving up runs in his opening over, David Willey returned to create some momentum in his second session, dismissing Kusal Perera in the tenth over, but it was already too late.
Replacing Josh Little, an Irishman, Marchant de Lange had a poor day at work, giving up almost 50 runs in his 4-over spell. Furthermore, Andre Russell’s three overs cost 34 runs, therefore he was unable to make much of an effect with the ball.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squads
Sunil Narine (c), Michael-Kyle Pepper (wk), Joe Clarke, Imad Wasim, Laurie Evans, Andre Russell, David Willey, Sam Hain, Matiullah Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Marchant de Lange.
Gulf Giants defeated Sharjah Warriors by a score of 31 runs to start the tournament on a positive note. But they lost their next game against a formidable MI Emirates team, unable to turn that easy victory into a winning run. In the subsequent match against Desert Vipers, a comeback victory was thwarted when the Vipers batters finished off the middling score they had set out to chase with eight balls remaining.
Following two impressive starts to the tournament, openers Jamie Smith and James Vince have become somewhat quiet. Jordan Cox, who has scored more than three thirty runs in four games, is Chris Lynn’s capable ally. Chris Lynn has been amazing, scoring 100 runs in his two appearances. Shimron Hetmyer hasn’t even once crossed the 20-point mark this season, continuing his awful trend.
Jamie Overton hasn’t featured in the last two games despite his impressive three-for against Sharjah Warriors in the first game and his explosive 41 from 18 against the MI Emirates in a losing effort. With a match-winning 3/26 against the Dubai Capitals, Carlos Brathwaite miraculously closed the distance, getting rid of three potent hitters in David Warner, Sam Billings, and Sikandar Raza.
Mujeeb’s lack of penetration in the early and middle overs is a clear indication of how bad the Giants have been with the ball this season, as he has only claimed one wicket in four games.
Gulf Giants Squads
James Vince (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Jordan, Dominic Drakes, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Usman Khan, Zuhaib Zubair, Jordan Cox, Richard Gleeson.
Match Details | ||
Match | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants, Match 16 | ILT20, 2024 | |
Date | 31/01/2024 (Wednesday) | |
Time | 19:30 (GMT+5) / 20:00 (GMT+5.5) / 20:30 (GMT+6) | |
Format | ILT20 | |
Venue | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | |
Recent performance | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – W L L W L | Gulf Giants – W L L W |
Live Streaming Details | Click Here to Watch The Live Streaming Score on JeetBuzz News | |
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
This season, winning the coin toss and then choosing to field is the tendency. It’s not surprising if the team winning the toss chooses to give the opponent a chance to bat first because the chasing team has won nine of the last thirteen games this season.
Since the outlook is still clear, the entire game should go off without a hitch.
The pitch hasn’t been entirely batting-friendly thus far, as there has only been one game when the total has over 375 runs.
It will be their first match.
Winning the toss
Player of the Match
Most runs
Most wickets
Most sixes
Team Scores Batting First
According to cricket analysts, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have a 51% chance of winning.
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