that will be that! The Capitals win by five wickets and go level on points with MI Emirates at the top of the table! Fired down leg. Chopra gets inside the line early and tickles it fine past the keeper. Embraces all around in the DC camp, they will be thrilled with this run-chase!
KnightRiders vs DC, 8th Match at Dubai, ILT20, Jan 25 2024 - Match Result
DC won by 5 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)
10:15pm That will be all from us for today. Join us tomorrow for more ILT20 action as MI Emirates take on the Sharjah Warriors. Until then, this is goodbye from all of us, take care!
David Warner, Dubai Capitals captain: (What worked well today) The boys stayed calm. The way they came back outside of the powerplay was brilliant. With two set batters, we executed very well. The two dropped catches probably went in our favour with Russell only having to come out for the last few balls. (On dew being a factor) No team won batting first (in the T20 World Cup) as well. If you can get up to 200, that might add a bit of pressure. It is tricky (bowling second). (On Willey having dismissed him four times in T20s) Does not matter who bowls to me, you are susceptible all the time (in the first over). If I get past three overs, watch out (smiles). (On the message to his team) My first message was to be brave, to express yourselves and not to second-guess. Have a clear mind and that is when you get into a good frame of mind and build momentum.
Sunil Narine, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain: (On if he felt the score was enough) We batted well. It was a good total. Picking up early wickets would have been key. They (batters) had a chat, they stuck to their plans and it helped that we did not lose wickets in clusters. Bowling second, with the amount of dew, there is not a lot you can do. We still need to execute better. Had we done that, it would have been a different run-chase. Hopefully we learn as quickly as possible.
Sam Billings, Player of the Match: When you are batting in the middle order, it is about managing the game. The two young lads (Gurbaz and Fraser-McGurk) at the top played beautifully, set up a nice platform where we could continue the momentum. Toss does play a factor, it gets pretty wet (in the second innings). Our batting is functioning nicely. We can get better in the field, though. (On his partnership with Raza) Both of us like running hard and that is a big part of our game. Then, if you get the odd boundary, you start getting 10-15 run overs. His (Raza's) international form has been stunning and long may it continue, I love playing with him. (On Fraser-McGurk) I am jealous (of how good he is), because at that age, still relatively new to the format, he is batting without fear, without any baggage. Awesome to see someone with so much talent and that gives energy to us older guys. He completely deserves his call-up to the Australian side and we wish him well.
9:55pm Wow, that was a stunning and clinical run-chase by the Capitals. Gurbaz and Fraser-McGurk set the tone early, smashing the ball to all parts during the powerplay. Billings and Raza then took up the mantle - the former notching up his second successive fifty, the latter departing just before the end. The Capitals batted with plenty of intent and their firepower was just too hot to handle for the Knight Riders.
Speaking of the Knight Riders, a pretty insipid bowling display all around. Willey got the early breakthrough of Warner but they lost the plot post it. There were too many boundary balls, both in the powerplay and after it, and they never looked like hauling the game back. They have now lost two on the bounce, and their season is threatening to go the way their previous campaign did.
hard length outside off. Dabbed straight to backward point and we go into another over
back of a length on leg stump. Hurries Powell for pace and smashes into his pads
sharp bumper on leg stump. Powell thinks about the pull initially before ducking under it. Almost lost his footing trying to duck it
banged into the track outside off. Chopra rocks back and pulls it to deep square leg
Chopra is the new batter in
The umpire calls for a time-out, not sure why, with just four runs needed. But it is what it is. ADKR, you sense, need a pretty good strategy, given the situation they are in
that is a very, very strange dismissal! Slower ball that ends up as a juicy full toss at the stumps. Raza, for some reason, tries to fence it into the on side and the ball pops straight up off the leading edge. Willey completes a return catch, and the Capitals lose their fifth!
Capitals one hit away from a win now
shot! Shortish just outside off. Raza manufactures room by staying leg side, peels the outer cover off the ball and knifes it past backward point!
Willey to bowl what could be the final over of this game
back of a length on middle and leg. Powell pokes it to short mid wicket. Not quite happy that he found the fielder, it must be said
angled in on a back of a length on leg stump. Raza goes back and punches it to deep mid wicket
back of a length on off. Powell knocks it down the ground to get off the mark
Powell walks in. Sip in place
Hb31: "Warner, Gurbaz, JFM, Raza, Billings and Powell. This top 6 is crazy stuff for a chase. DC looking invincible right now in chases."
Billings perishes! Given a bit of air on a length outside off. Billings comes down the track, looking to go over long on. He is beaten in the air, though, and is not to the pitch of the ball. Has to reach out and the ball clinks off the toe-end towards long on. Evans settles himself and does the rest, bringing an end a match-winning knock!
back of a length on leg stump. Billings nurdles it into the mid wicket region and both batters canter back for the second
back of a length on middle and off. Raza drops it into the off side and calls his partner through for a single
Just 13 needed now. 36 balls to get those runs. Can the Capitals finish it this over? Narine to bowl
this is a clinic! Attempted slower yorker outside off. Billings shuffles across his stumps, picks the slower ball, goes down on one knee and slams it over square leg!
finds the gap again! Very full outside off. Billings camps deep in his crease and opens his bat face just enough to thread it between mid off and extra cover!
but it makes no difference at all! Full toss outside off. Billings cannot believe his luck and smacks it back past the bowler!
Around the wicket to Billings
dropped! Dug into the track outside off. Raza jumps up onto his toes and arrows his pull towards deep mid wicket. Willey dives full-length to his left but cannot hold on. Hit him high on the left palm, and the ball popped out. Full marks for the effort, though
over the top! Slower bumper but this slides down leg, allowing Raza to get inside the line and hook it over short fine leg!
full outside off. Billings gets down on one knee and sweeps it towards square leg
Matiullah to try his luck now
Smart batting to see off another Narine over. The rest of the bowlers have not looked penetrative enough, and DC might look to target them to polish off this run-chase quickly
fullish on off stump. Billings skips down the track and works it to deep mid wicket
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Dubai International Cricket Stadium | |
Toss | Dubai Capitals, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023/24 |
Player Of The Match | |
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 days | 25 January 2024 - night (20-over match) |
ADKR Player Replacement | |
DC Player Replacement | Impact player: in, out (1st innings, 17.6 ov) |
Umpires | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Dubai Capitals 2, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 0 |
Over 17 • DC 185/5
DC won by 5 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)