KnightRiders vs DC, Eliminator at Dubai, ILT20, Jan 01 2026 - Match Result

RESULT
Eliminator (N), Dubai (DICS), January 01, 2026, International League T20
(16.2/20 ov, T:159) 108

KnightRiders won by 50 runs

Player Of The Match
3/12
sunil-narine
Cricinfo's MVP
87.71 ptsImpact List
michael-pepper
T20 CAREER
BattersRB4s6sSRThis Bowlerlast 5 balls
150020.000 (2b)0 (0b)
BowlersOMRWEcon0s4s6sThis spell
3.201835.4011201.2 - 0 - 3 - 2
402636.5012124 - 0 - 26 - 3
MatRunsHSAve
515815*5.80
MatWktsBBIAve
3313545/2726.70
3361464/1725.69
 Last BatMuhammad Jawadullah 0 (1b) FOW108/10 (16.2 Ov)
Reviews Remaining: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders - 1 of 2, Dubai Capitals - 0 of 2
DRS
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W
W
16th
1
6
6
2
15th
1
2
14th
1
4
1
W
13th
1w
1
1
1
1
Match centre 
Scores: Thilak R | Comms: Rvel Zahid
Cricinfo's Most Valuable Players of the Match
PlayerTeam
TI
Runs
I. Runs
B. Impact
Bowl
I. Wkts
Bo. Impact
ADKR87.7172(49)82.387.71---
ADKR77.6522(11)27.6735.093/182.6342.55
ADKR71.91---3/123.6671.91
DC50.1527(21)29.9813.83/253.6636.35
ADKR41.5643(34)45.7241.56---

What a clinical performance by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders! They have bundled out Dubai Capitals for a meagre 108, with no innings of note apart from Neesham's 19 off 13 and Nabi's 27 off 13. It's a sorry-looking scorecard, and Holder, Narine, and Livingstone picked up three wickets each while being miserly and suffocating for the batters. Salt and Pepper earlier stitched together a match-winning stand, and even though there was a massive collapse in the middle, a cameo from Holder with the bat gave them just enough runs on the board to make it a contest. And boy, did they deliver perfectly, increasing their intensity by leaps and bounds on the big night. It's a new year, and it looked like a brand new improved team! Today, they looked like a completely different outfit, stunning Capitals with their aggression and accuracy. They never looked out of the game with the ball, picking wickets at will as Capitals batters went frantically about their business, finding fielders whenever they tried to clear the ropes. There's a lot for Capitals to reflect on and learn when it comes to pacing the innings and taking calculated risks, as they fell short on the strategic front with the bat

Mohammad Nabi, Dubai Capitals captain: Think it's quite tough to say we pulled it back when bowling when they looked set to score 200 and we bowled really well as a bowling unit but not as a batting unit. It's not that much spin but again they bowled really well. Enjoyed tournament as an allrounder and captain, it's hard luck on today's game but otherwise the whole tournament we played really well

Jason Holder, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain: Really really happy with the win, boys played really good cricket. We obviously lost wickets in the middle but still got a competitive score on this wicket. Still gotta back your calls -- some days it works, some days it's not. We got players who can play dual roles… (on personal form), pleased, haven't had a huge deal to do with the bat, finished last year well, started this year well, hopefully this continues. Always good contest between these two teams, always like a derby (match against MI Emirates). May the better team win

Sunil Narine, Player of the Match: I am trying to bowl a little bit more attacking, sometimes you get hit when you attack… Latter half in Dubai it's spinning a bit, so you have more options as spinners. The atmosphere and vibes help; when you win, it helps. In three years we struggled and the fourth year we are here, it's emotional because we have played good cricket in the past. They (Knight Riders) are a proud franchise, they want to keep up high, and we have the momentum. Hope we can win the championship

16.2
W
Holder to Muhammad Jawadullah, OUT

Sensational comeback and Jason Holder, you beauty, galvanized his team superbly and ADKR made a roaring comeback in this game, gets back-to-back wickets, asking him to flay at the fuller wide once and he obliges, chases it for a drive and another edge gobbled by Pepper! That will the end of defending champions campaign and Knight Riders will have another chance to make it to the final!

Muhammad Jawadullah c Pepper b Holder 0 (1b 0x4 0x6 1m) SR: 0
16.1
W
Holder to M Nabi, OUT

Around the wicket, edged and taken and that looks like the killer blow! Pushed wider across off on a length and he was not going to hold back, tries to hammer it up and over extra cover, gets the toe-end part of the bat and snaffled by the keeper, with his wicket, he takes away all the hopes for any upset

Mohammad Nabi c Pepper b Holder 27 (21b 1x4 2x6 29m) SR: 128.57
end of over 1615 runs
DC: 108/8CRR: 6.75 RRR: 12.75 • Need 51 from 24b
Mohammad Nabi27 (20b 1x4 2x6)
Haider Ali1 (5b)
Liam Livingstone 4-0-26-3
Jason Holder 3-0-18-1
15.6
1
Livingstone to M Nabi, 1 run

Change of line, length and sliding across off, he shuffles across and flicks it across the line to midwicket, gets the single he was looking for, heaps of experience, all resting on his shoulders to keep his team's hopes alive and it's a perfect time for the strategic timeout

15.5
6
Livingstone to M Nabi, SIX runs

We know Nabi is a great player of spin, not a good match-up, fuller and angling into him, he gets right behind the line and knocks him over his head for a long-on for a towering six, that's a good over for Capitals

15.4
Livingstone to M Nabi, no run

Follows him as he wanders down leg, and cramps him for room, scuffs a drive back to him

15.3
Livingstone to M Nabi, no run

Over the wicket, leg spinner quicker and fuller, turning away from middle, the right-hander, inside edge down down wide of fine leg up in the ring, good comeback from Livingstone who has bowled like a frontline option tonight

15.2
6
Livingstone to M Nabi, SIX runs

Quicker into the toes, whacked over his head for a six! Overcooked and he got right under it, captain is not going to die wondering, that was in the slot and deposited into the stands! 84 meters

15.1
2
Livingstone to M Nabi, 2 runs

Around the wicket, shorter and angling into his body as he steps away to the leg-side, flicked to the leg-side, singles are not going to make any difference

end of over 153 runs
DC: 93/8CRR: 6.20 RRR: 13.20 • Need 66 from 30b
Haider Ali1 (5b)
Mohammad Nabi12 (14b 1x4)
Jason Holder 3-0-18-1
Liam Livingstone 3-0-11-3
14.6
Holder to Haider Ali, no run

Touch fuller and outside off, opens the face and smoothly carves it away to deep cover-point, will keep the strike as he should

14.5
Holder to Haider Ali, no run

Low full-toss, nearly a yorker, it swung in late and was dipping into his toes, blocked back to the bowler

14.4
1
Holder to M Nabi, 1 run

The white seats above the sight screen are obstructing the view and Nabi is not comfortable about it.

Around the wicket, rams the yorker into the toes, digs it out to midwicket, all down to captain

14.3
2
Holder to M Nabi, 2 runs

Fuller and wide, clattered on the rise to long-off

14.2
Holder to M Nabi, no run

Spiteful bumper delivery around the line off, unable to connect on the cut, above shoulder height, not given as no ball increasing batters's troubles

14.1
Holder to M Nabi, no run

Around the wicket, big man dugs in short and slants it across off, just inside the tramline on off, Nabi is not too amused, thought it's a wide but it was well inside the line, Nabi has an issue with sight screen too

end of over 146 runs • 1 wicket
DC: 90/8CRR: 6.42 RRR: 11.50 • Need 69 from 36b
Mohammad Nabi9 (10b 1x4)
Haider Ali1 (3b)
Liam Livingstone 3-0-11-3
Ajay Kumar 3-0-24-1
13.6
1
Livingstone to M Nabi, 1 run

Around the wicket again, fuller and lower trajectory, leg-side line, flicked towards midwicket and settles for a run, another fabulous over, think Capitals wanted to take him on and saw him as less of a threat and it's been relentless pressure from all ends, no respite at all

13.5
4
Livingstone to M Nabi, FOUR runs

Looped up full on leg, right into the toes, takes it one, frees his arms and smokes it high and handsome past long-on, excellent attempt from the fielder who almost made it

13.4
1
Livingstone to Haider Ali, 1 run

Moves leg-side and plays a controlled push in front of midwicket and gets away from the firing line, gets off the mark

13.3
Livingstone to Haider Ali, no run

Once again, length and wicket to wicket, he puts bat on ball

13.2
Livingstone to Haider Ali, no run

Ohhwww, good length and spinning in the corridor, lunges at it and tries to punch it through the off-side, beaten

13.1
W
Livingstone to Willey, OUT

wheels continue to come off and another one perishes! Livingstone with a golden arm gets another apparently, given. by the on-field umpire but sent upstairs. Livingstone can do no wrong tonight, irksome angle from around the wicket, shaping it in from a length and gets just enough drift and inward movement to cause confusion in the batter's mind, he lunged at it and missed, hitting middle and leg, all reds mean Willey has to take the long walk back to the pavilion. What a power packed performance from ADKR! It will be statement win and they seem to be fully ready for the Qualifier 2. Asking rate demands big shots but it's all chaos at the moment from Capitals

David Willey lbw b Livingstone 2 (6b 0x4 0x6 8m) SR: 33.33
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Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
MS Pepper
72 runs (49)
7 fours3 sixes
Productive shot
on drive
13 runs
0 four2 sixes
Control
67%
PD Salt
43 runs (34)
3 fours1 six
Productive shot
pull
12 runs
1 four0 six
Control
74%
Best performances - bowlers
SP Narine
O
3
M
0
R
12
W
3
ECO
4
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
2W
LEGOFF
LHB
1W
JO Holder
O
3.2
M
0
R
18
W
3
ECO
5.4
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W
1W
LEGOFF
LHB
1W
Match details
Dubai International Cricket Stadium
TossAbu Dhabi Knight Riders, elected to bat first
Series
Season2025/26
Players per sideAbu Dhabi Knight Riders 12 (11 batting, 11 fielding); Dubai Capitals 12 (11 batting, 11 fielding)
Player Of The Match
Series resultAbu Dhabi Knight Riders advanced
Hours of play (local time)18.30 start, First Session 18.30-20.00, Interval 20.00-20.20, Second Session 20.20-21.50
Match days1 January 2026 - night (20-over match)
ADKR Player Replacement
Impact player in out (1st innings, 19.6 ov)
DC Player Replacement
Impact player in out (1st innings, 16.6 ov)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Language
English
Win Probability
ADKR 100%
ADKRDC
100%50%100%ADKR InningsDC Innings

Over 17 • DC 108/10

Mohammad Nabi c Pepper b Holder 27 (21b 1x4 2x6 29m) SR: 128.57
W
Muhammad Jawadullah c Pepper b Holder 0 (1b 0x4 0x6 1m) SR: 0
W
KnightRiders won by 50 runs
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International League T20

TeamMWLPTNRR
DV1082160.438
MIE1073140.676
DC1055100.578
ADKR10468-0.559
GG10376-0.310
SW10376-0.815