The ILT20 in UAE saw exciting on-field play. On Sunday, fast half-centuries from Muhammad Waseem, Kieron Pollard, and Andre Fletcher helped MI Emirates score 241 for 3 in 20 overs. MI Emirates’ left-arm medium pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi took three wickets, supported by Zahoor Khan and Imran Tahir with two wickets each, to dismiss Desert Vipers for only 84 runs in 12.1 overs, securing a 157-run victory in the 21st franchise league match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
UAE’s Waseem ignited MI Emirates’ performance with an 86-run knock in 44 balls, featuring 11 fours and 4 sixes. Fletcher, playing a supporting role, scored 50 in 39 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. They formed an opening partnership of 141 runs in 12.3 overs.
Skipper Kieron Pollard then hit an unbeaten 19-ball half-century with 4 fours and 4 sixes, adding 89 runs in just 5.2 overs with Dan Mousley who made an unbeaten 31 runs in 17 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes.
An entertaining moment occurred during the match. Mousley hit a massive six off Matheesha Pathirana that landed outside the stadium and was retrieved by a passerby. Pollard also hit a six that landed outside, but was thrown back inside the stadium by a man on the road.
MI Emirates achieved not only the tournament’s highest score but also its largest win. This is also the second-highest T20 league score at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, after Balkh Legends scored 244 for 6 in 20 overs against Kabul Zwanan in the 2018 Afghanistan Premier League.
