Abu Dhabi: MI Emirates secured their playoff spot with a commanding eight-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants at the Zayed Cricket Stadium . A brilliant all-round performance, highlighted by Nicholas Pooran and Muhammad Waseem’s unbeaten 140-run partnership off just 89 balls, powered the team to their fourth consecutive win with 21 balls to spare.
Chasing 142, MI Emirates were 58/2 after 10 overs, before Pooran and Waseem unleashed an explosive 84-run stand in the next 6.3 overs. Waseem remained unbeaten on 59 off 42 balls, striking three fours and three sixes, while Pooran smashed an unbeaten 69 off 49 balls, including six sixes and three fours. Moeen Ali’s 51 off 48 balls for the Giants proved insufficient.
The innings had a shaky start as Mark Adair trapped Jonny Bairstow LBW for a duck, and Azmatullah Omarzai removed Tom Banton for another early wicket, reducing MI Emirates to 2/2 within two overs. However, Pooran and Waseem rotated the strike effectively, gradually building momentum. Pooran accelerated after the 10th over, reaching his half-century in 43 balls, and Waseem followed suit, completing his first fifty of the season in just 38 balls.
At the 15th over, MI Emirates required 27 runs from 30 balls. The duo calmly sealed the victory, with Pooran hitting consecutive sixes in the 16th over to level the scores before Waseem finished the chase.
Earlier, the Gulf Giants struggled to build partnerships despite Moeen Ali and Kyle Mayers’ efforts. Romario Shepherd struck early, dismissing James Vince and Asif Khan, while Fazalhaq Farooqi removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Tight spells from Arab Gul, Shakib Al Hasan, and Kieron Pollard further restricted the Giants, limiting them to 141/6 in 20 overs.
MI Emirates’ Muhammad Waseem, named player of the match, said, “We spoke in the middle about the early movement. The focus was to survive the first few overs and build a partnership. Once we got through that phase, we settled into our natural game and waited for loose deliveries.”
