Sharjah Cricket Stadium witnessed an electrifying clash as the defending champions, Gulf Giants, showcased their supremacy against Sharjah Warriors in the opening match of the International League T20 on January 19.
Gulf Giants’ opener Jamie Smith set the stage on fire
After being put into bat by the Warriors, Gulf Giants’ opener Jamie Smith set the stage on fire with a blazing 42 off just 18 balls, providing the momentum the Giants needed. Skipper J Vince and others chipped in with valuable contributions, allowing them to finish at a formidable 198-7 in their 20 overs. Despite Theekshana’s impressive 4-wicket haul for the Warriors, Gulf Giants finished strong.
The Gulf Giants’ innings was characterized by a blend of aggressive strokeplay and calculated contributions from key players. The batsmen effectively utilized their skills to propel the team to a challenging total, setting the stage for a compelling contest against the Sharjah Warriors.
Sharjah Warriors struggled to keep up with the asking rate:
In response, Sharjah Warriors began well, with their Super-sub, Martin Guptill, playing a decent knock and Johnson Charles contributing timely boundaries. However, once Guptill departed, the Warriors faced challenges in maintaining the required run rate. Charles scored a fine fifty but fell against the run of play. Gulf Giants’ bowlers, particularly Overton and Jordan, utilized slower balls effectively, causing the Warriors to lose wickets under mounting pressure.
The hosts struggled to keep up with the asking rate, losing wickets at crucial intervals. Despite the Giants dropping a few catches, the Warriors couldn’t capitalize, ultimately falling short by 31 runs. Gulf Giants’ disciplined bowling and strategic use of slower deliveries proved pivotal in securing their victory.
Gulf Giants won by 31 runs, displaying their prowess as defending champions.
Gulf Giants Innings: 198-7 (20 Overs)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Smith (wk) | 42 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 233.33 |
| J Vince (c) | 45 | 35 | 3 | 2 | 128.57 |
| Jordan Cox | 32 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 145.45 |
| Hetmyer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Usman Khan | 32 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 177.78 |
| Karim Janat | 17 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 130.77 |
| J Overton | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Chris Jordan | 11 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 183.33 |
| Mujeeb | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
Fall of Wickets: 61-1 (Jamie Smith, 5.2), 114-2 (J Vince, 11.4), 114-3 (Hetmyer, 11.5), 140-4 (Jordan Cox, 13.4), 168-5 (Usman Khan, 16.4), 184-6 (J Overton, 18.3), 197-7 (Karim Janat, 19.5)
Bowling:
- Chris Woakes: 4 overs, 35 runs, 2 wickets
- Christopher Sole: 2 overs, 29 runs, 0 wickets
- M Theekshana: 4 overs, 15 runs, 4 wickets
- Daniel Sams: 4 overs, 47 runs, 1 wicket
- Jawadullah: 2 overs, 22 runs, 0 wickets
- Qais Ahmad: 3 overs, 38 runs, 0 wickets
- L Gregory: 1 over, 9 runs, 0 wickets
Powerplays: 64 runs in 6 overs
Sharjah Warriors Innings: 167-7 (20 Overs)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Guptill | 40 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 133.33 |
| Johnson Charles | 57 | 38 | 6 | 3 | 150.00 |
| Tom Kohler-Cadmore (c) | 19 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 158.33 |
| Daniel Sams | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 36.36 |
| Lewis Gregory | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Niroshan Dickwella (wk) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Basil Hameed | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Chris Woakes | 22 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 169.23 |
| Christopher Sole | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
Fall of Wickets: 93-1 (Martin Guptill, 10.3), 105-2 (Johnson Charles, 12.2), 124-3 (Tom Kohler-Cadmore, 14.1), 130-4 (Daniel Sams, 15.5), 134-5 (Lewis Gregory, 16.1), 136-6 (Niroshan Dickwella, 16.3), 149-7 (Basil Hameed, 18.2)
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Bowling:
- Richard Gleeson: 4 overs, 35 runs, 1 wicket
- Aayan Afzal Khan: 3 overs, 25 runs, 0 wickets
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman: 2 overs, 20 runs, 0 wickets
- Dominic Drakes: 2 overs, 10 runs, 1 wicket
- Chris Jordan: 4 overs, 35 runs, 2 wickets
- Karim Janat: 1 over, 9 runs, 0 wickets
- Jamie Overton: 4 overs, 29 runs, 3 wickets
Powerplays: 56 runs in 6 overs
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