swept away over fine leg! MIE are eliminated, while Warriorz get one step closer to the final. The over began with Warriorz requiring 14 to win; five balls into it, the game is done, when there were brief hopes of a stunning comeback from MIE. Hosein bowled this on a full length on Seifert's pads, and the latter swung at it to wrap the match up
MI Emirates vs Warriorz, Eliminator at Abu Dhabi, ILT20, Feb 06 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Warriorz won by 6 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)
Such is the scheduling crunch - even in this league, and not just in international cricket - that Sharjah Warriorz will be back in action in only about 19 hours from now. It is one must-win game after another. There's hardly any time for them to recuperate and resume, as Desert Vipers await in Qualifier 2 in Sharjah. Join us for what will be the penultimate game of this season's ILT20 tomorrow, as we wrap the Eliminator up tonight. Until next time, goodnight and take care (and follow the SA20 Qualifier 2 for the time being)!
Tim Seifert is the Player of the Match: "It's always nice to put into winning position. I thought the bowlers did a great job. That first four balls Pooran faced put pressure on us. The bowlers have been unbelievable. The way they use the new ball is outstanding. Southee has done the job for the Black Caps... you still got to be positive. I thought they bowled very well. We lost a couple of bang-bang wickets as well. Big semi-final, so hopefully we can make the final."
Tim Southee, Warriorz captain: "Nicholas came out and took the game on. Nice to get across the line. You shouldn't lose too many games chasing 140-odd. It's been great [playing in Abu Dhabi]."
Nicholas Pooran, MIE captain: "Not much assistance there for the bowlers. It was tough. [Warriorz] were brilliant. They took their chances. We didn't have an answer for them. Congrats to them. You get what you deserve. Looking forward to it next year, obviously. I felt like we were right in the game there. Farooqi has been brilliant this season. It's difficult; it's nine international players."
Time for the presentations
10.07pm Eleven overs into the chase, Warriorz needed only another 52 runs from the remaining 54 balls. They even had nine wickets standing. Three overs and two wickets later, we might have thought this could head anywhere. Another three overs on, MIE barely clung on to some hopes. But Siefert turned out to be the difference. He calmly cracked 40* at a strike rate of 200, even as TKC and Roy took their time before him. It wasn't a chase without its share of nerves, but Warriorz eventually got the victory they wanted. Hang around for the presentations.
Over the stumps
bang over mid-off! This over is turning it around. It was a full ball around off, and he lofted with the turn
again he makes room, but this time he can only slap this length ball around off to mid-off
he backs away, and Hosein goes on a fullish length around middle and leg. Nudged towards deep midwicket by Seifert, and they push for two
bashed wide of long-off! Hosein tosses one up, and goes full and wide of off. Seifert spots the width available, and drives in the massive gap for four
Warriorz need another 14. MIE desperate for a strike or two.
Hosein back
short of a length on middle, and clipped to the man at a straightish fine leg
swiped to fine leg! Seifert gets strike, and relieves pressure straightaway. On the shorter side of a length, and angling into middle and off, as Seifert pulled for four
short delivery around off, and shaping back in. Pulled just to mid-off's left
another dot ball! Short in length, and the ball climbs over off as Mustafa looks to ramp but misses
ooh, run-out chance missed! Shepherd was at square leg, and his throw was wide of the stumps at the striker's end, even as Mustafa was way out. Short in length at the stumps, and he looked to pull
short of a length outside off, and hacked towards deep point
MIE somehow dragging this on... as Rohid returns from around the wicket
great over from Farooqi! He finishes it off with an inswinging yorker which lands outside leg, and between Mustafa's legs
short in length just outside off, as Mustafa looks to swat-pull but gets it off the bottom of the bat to Farooqi
driven to deep cover
a yorker swinging into off, and squeezed towards extra cover. Mustafa pushes for the single, and throw at the non-striker's end is just wide of the stumps
he decides to skip down the first ball, and Farooqi bowls full and just outside off. Mustafa looked to loft but missed
Mustafa
bottom edge, and bowled him! MIE seem to strike each time we feel this is in Warriorz's bag. Farooqi bowled on a fullish length, and quite wide of off. TKC went slashing far away from his body, and reached out without any foot movement. As a result, a bottom edge hit off stump
ooh, pings Seifert on the helmet! The umpire immediately calls for the physio, who rushes out with his bag. Short ball at rapid pace from Joseph at middle, as Seifert went to pull but the ball zipped through towards him
top edge, but four! Seifert has some luck going his way! Short in length from Joseph, who bowled just outside off. Seifert went for the pull, and the ball went skying over the keeper
again TKC decides to make room, and this time guides this length delivery to deep third
Over 19 • SW 149/4
Warriorz won by 6 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)