ILT20: MI Emirates add UAE crown to Mumbai’s burgeoning trophy cabinet

It took Mumbai Indians six attempts to get their name on the Indian Premier League trophy for the first time. Their UAE offshoot, the MI Emirates, have taken just two goes to do the same in the DP World International League T20.

Last season, the pilot edition of the UAE’s franchise 20-over league, was just a sighter. Second time around they dominated the field, in much the same way as their IPL brothers have done so often down the years.

Having topped the league phase of the campaign, then made it through to the final at the first go after beating last year’s winners, Gulf Giants. All that stood between them and the title was Dubai Capitals.

They crushed them, winning by 45 runs.

So confident were they, even a lost toss proved nothing to worry about. Sam Billings, who did such a fine job filling in for David Warner – the poster boy ahead of this ILT20 season, called right and opted to chase. It is usually a fail-safe method for evening T20 games at Dubai International Stadium.

MI were not fussed. Kushal Perera, their Sri Lankan opener, was so relaxed before going out to bat he was sat back watching the children’s dance troupe run through their pre-final routine. When they finished, he applauded.

His opening partner, Muhammad Waseem, might have been forgiven for being sidetracked himself. The UAE captain has a Pakistan Super League contract waiting for him. The first match of the PSL season was taking place at the same time as the ILT20 final, and his side, Islamabad United, were in action.

Clearly, he was entirely focused on the task at hand. Waseem struck the third ball of the match, from the beleaguered Scott Kuggeleijn, down the ground for six. A Billings counter-punch aside, it was more or less one-way traffic from