Gulf Giants registered back-to-back victories as they defeated Dubai Capitals by six wickets in their second match of the inaugural International League T20 (ILT20) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday, January 16.

Chasing a competitive target of 183, the Giants rode on twin fifties from captain James Vince (83 not out) and Gerhard Erasmus (52), along with Rehan Ahmed’s 17-ball 28 to chase down the target in 19 overs.

Ahmed and Vince smashed the Capitals bowlers in the powerplay to register a quick-fire 43-run opening stand before the teenager was dismissed for 28.

The Giants suffered another setback as Ollie Pope (0) was trapped in front of the stumps by Capitals’ spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

With the Giants reeling at 43/2 in 5.5 overs, Erasmus joined Vince at the crease. The duo played sensibly to stitch a 107-run partnership for the third wicket and also kept the Giants in the chase.

In the meantime, Vince notched up his second consecutive fifty in the ongoing T20 tournament while Erasmus recorded his maiden ILT20 half-century.

The brilliant third-wicket partnership ended in a mix-up as Erasmus was run-out for a 28-ball 52.

While the Giants lost Shimron Hetmyer quickly (6), Vince and Wiese guided the Giants to their second successive victory.

Earlier, the Giants won the toss and opted to field first. The Capital’s openers Robin Uthappa and Joe Root got off to a blitzkrieg start. Former India opener Uthappa looked in great touch as he brought up a scintillating fifty.

Meanwhile, the Giants’ skipper Vince inflicted a smart run-out to break the 71-run opening partnership and send Root back in the pavilion for just six runs.

Uthappa continued his attacking approach before he was dismissed by Giants’ star all-rounder David Wiese for a well-made 46-ball 79.

The 18-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed produced a magical spell in the middle overs to dismiss Capitals captain Rovman Powell (38), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (3) and Ravi Bopara (2) to bring the Giants back into the game.

Pacer Richard Gleeson also bagged the wickets of tailenders Isuru Udana (2) and Hazrat Luqman (10) to restrict the strong Capitals’ batting line-up to 182/8 in their 20 overs.

With four points from two matches, the Giants pip the Capitals to jump to the top of the ILT20 2023 points table 

Having secured two consecutive victories in the ongoing ILT20, the Giants will aim to continue their magnificent start as they lock horns with the Capitals once again at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday, January 19.