MI Emirates vs. Gulf Giants: highlights from the match

On Friday evening, the MI Emirates were pitted against the Gulf Giants to determine who would qualify for the right to play the Desert Vipers in the DP World ILT 20 Final on Sunday. The MI Emirates had reached this stage by hammering the Dubai Capitals in the previous evening’s qualifier in Sharjah. The Gulf Giants, who finished top of the league after the round-robin stage, were disappointed not to have taken the direct route to the final, having lost out to the Desert Vipers in the first vs. second qualifier on Wednesday.

First blood went to the Giants who won the toss and elected to bowl. Colin de Grandhomme opened the bowling, with Carlos Brathwaite taking the second over. His fourth ball was thick-edged by Andre Fletcher — score of 66 not out in his previous innings — into the safe hands of Chris Jordan above his head at slip. Lorcan Tucker took on David Wiese, advancing down the pitch to strike through the off-side, 18 coming from the over, the score 30 for one wicket after four overs.

Tucker continued in aggressive manner against Jordan but, in attempting a straight six, he skied the ball to cover, where two fielders sought to claim the catch, Aayan Khan emerging successfully with the ball. At 35 for two after seven overs, the MI Emirates needed to accelerate. Mohammed Waseem took the responsibility, smashing De Grandhomme over mid-wicket for six, then to long off and finally square to propel the score to 63 for two after nine overs.

The innings then suffered a double setback. Dan Mousley slashed at Wiese, the edge being caught acrobatically, one-handed, by the leaping Gerhard Erasmus. Then, Waseem could not believe that he inside-edged a ball wide of the off stump from Jordan into his wicket. He took a long