Gulf Giants stay alive in the playoff race

Abu Dhabi,
The Gulf Giants returned to winning ways as they coasted to a fantastic seven-wicket win over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the DP World ILT20 clash at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The win sees the Gulf Giants climb up the ladder to the third spot and does a world of good to their playoff chances. The result also means the MI Emirates join the Desert Vipers as the two teams to have qualified for the playoffs.
Needing a win to stay alive in the competition, the Gulf Giants were brilliant with the ball as they stifled the Knight Riders for 123. In response, they rode on a superb 70-run partnership between Gerhard Erasmus and Tom Curran and some late pinch-hitting from Shimron Hetmyer to clinch the victory.
The Giants scored 27/2 in the powerplay, just three runs more than how many their opponents managed at the same stage. A disciplined bowling effort from Willey and Sunil Narine curtailed the Giants’ batting as they were restricted to 50/2 at the halfway stage.
But it was just a matter of time before Erasmus and Curran found their groove, and that happened in the 11th over. Curran let loose as he hit Andre Russell for a four, a six, and then a four to amass 17 much-needed runs. That big over gave the Giants the impetus they needed as they got 12 more runs off Terrance Hinds in the 13th over. The Giants were on track at this point, at 82/2, and needed a run a ball from the remaining seven overs.
Hetmyer displayed his big-hitting skills as he clobbered Irbar Ahmad for a maximum over deep midwicket and subsequently hit the winning runs to seal a remarkable seven-wicket victory for the Gulf Giants.
Earlier, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders made a poor start when they lost both their openers – Kyle Mayers and Andries Gous – inside the opening three overs. They each made one run as the Knight Riders limped to 4/2. Roston Chase offered them some hope as he struck a few boundaries to lead them to 24/2 at the end of the powerplay.
He departed for 15 soon after to Blessing Muzarabani, and Willey entered the fray. The Englishman steadied the ship and teamed up with Joe Clarke to put up 29 runs for the fourth wicket. The runs, though, were hard to come by as the Knight Riders went through four overs without a boundary. They were precariously placed at 55/3 after 12 overs when Clarke fell to Chris Jordan.
The Knight Riders made plenty of changes to their batting order as Russell came in next. His arrival seemed to swing the fortunes in his side’s favour as Willey launched two massive sixes before Russell hit a couple of boundaries. However, his stay at the crease was cut when Tom Curran dismissed him for 15. With five overs to go, the Knight Riders were at 80/5 and were in dire need of some quick runs to put up a competitive total. Willey shouldered the responsibility and hit Mark Adair for a six, but the Irishman struck back on the very next delivery. Willey’s resolute display came to an end after he made a crucial 41 off 29 deliveries.
Alishan Sharafu, the local boy who has been among the Knight Riders’ better batsmen this season, was tasked with steering his side at the death overs. He got off the mark with a boundary, but the runs dried up thereon as the Knight Riders managed just three boundaries in the final four overs to put up a modest total of 123.
Brief scores:
Gulf Giants beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by seven wickets
Gulf Giants 124/3 in 17.5 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 47, Tom Curran 38 not out, Shimron Hetmyer 20 not out, David Willey 2 for 17, Jason Holder 1 for 17)
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 123-7 in 20 overs (David Willey 41, Alishan Sharafu 21 not out, Chris Jordan 2 for 20, Mark Adair 2 for 25, Dan Worrall 1 for 13)
Player of the Match: Dan Worrall