Zadran and Bravo power MI Emirates to dramatic ILT20 win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

MI Emirates secured a dramatic last over victory against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Dwayne Bravo (15 off 6) and Najibullah Zadran (35 off 17) were their heroes on the night after they smashed Andre Russell for 25 in the final over to maintain their perfect record in the competition.

Chasing 170, MI Emirates lost two early wickets. UAE opener Muhammad Waseem (2) was first to depart, caught by Sunil Narine off Lahiru Kumara in the second over.

Will Smeed followed soon at 27 before Andre Fletcher and Nicholas Pooran (20) came together with a 55-run stand for the third wicket before the latter pulled one straight to Charith Asalanka at deep square leg off Russell.

Kumara trapped Fletcher in front for 53 to leave MI Emirates at 98 for four in the 14th over.

Kieron Pollard and Zadran then came together to bring the target down to 29 from two overs.

But in the very first ball of that penultimate over, Pollard (31 off 23) hoisted Narine straight to the cow corner for Raymon Reifer to take a well-judged catch at deep square leg.

MI Emirates needed 20 from Russell’s final over. Bravo began with a thumping six over midwicket and took two off the next. The third was hammered down the long on fence, bringing down the target to eight off three.

Bravo scrambled for a single in the next and that brought Zadran on strike, and the Afghan international hoisted the first ball he faced over the deep square leg for the maximum that left them needing one from one.

The final delivery was sent over third man for six for MI Emirates to clinch a five-wicket victory, their third in three games, and leave Knight Riders winless in five matches.

Earlier, Dhananjaya de Silva struck a 40-ball 65, and