What an exciting match! The Gulf Giants pulled off a thrilling 2-wicket win against MI Emirates in Abu Dhabi to keep our Playoffs hopes alive in Season 3 of the DP World ILT20. This victory was much-needed, and we hope it kickstarts a winning streak as we head into the crucial phase of the tournament.

After opting to bowl first, we got off to a dream start. Daniel Worrall dismissed both Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera early, putting us in control. Mark Adair then joined the action, sending the dangerous Nicholas Pooran back to the pavilion. Making his season debut, Tom Curran bowled brilliantly and picked up the wicket of Dan Mousley. MI Emirates fought back, though, with Tom Banton scoring a vital 56. Kieron Pollard chipped in with a quick 34, while Akeal Hosein’s late hitting took them to 151/6 in 20 overs.

Chasing 152, we faced an early setback as skipper James Vince departed cheaply. Jordan Cox followed soon after for just 9. Tom Alsop and Gerhard Erasmus steadied the ship with a solid 65-run partnership. Alsop scored 32 before falling, and Erasmus was dismissed shortly after, leaving us in a tough spot. Things got tense as Shimron Hetmyer and Ibrahim Zadran also fell quickly.

Tom Curran kept us in the game with a handy 16, while Mark Adair’s quick 15 off 8 balls brought us closer. With 11 runs needed off the final over, Aayan Khan smashed a six off the first ball to ease the pressure. There was still drama as Curran got out with just one run needed, but Zuhaib Zubair held his nerve and hit the winning runs.

This win lifts us to 5th on the points table and keeps our Playoffs dreams alive. Up next, we face Sharjah Warriorz on Sunday in another must-win clash. Let’s bring our A-game and keep the momentum going