Bairstow, bowlers help MI Emirates prevail in low-scoring thriller

The race for the ILT20 playoffs spots continued to heat up as MI Emirates overcame Dubai Capitals in a low-scoring thriller in Dubai, pipping the opposition by seven runs. Jonny Bairstow scored 67 to take MIE to 137 while Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd Naveen-ul-Haq picked up a brace of wickets to restrict the Capitals to 130.

Bairstow began his innings by crunching two boundaries off Mustafizur Rahman in the second over. Muhammad Waseem joined hands in the next over scoring two fours off David Willey, before the UAE captain was given a reprieve by Mohammad Nabi. The openers gave MIE a decent start in the PowerPlay, taking them to 40/0.

Waseem fell in the second ball after the PowerPlay but Bairstow seemed to find success against the spinners. He hit Nabi for two sixes and a four in the 11th over and moved to his 50. Nicholas Pooran fell for eight off Jawadullah while Bairstow fell in his following over. Kieron Pollard fell too as MIE began to lose their way. Things got worse for the batting side as Mustafizur struck thrice in the 18th over, using the slower balls to full effect to deceive his victims. A couple of lusty blows from Romario Shepherd took MIE to 137 for 8.

Shayan Jahangir dealt in sixes in the PowerPlay for the Capitals. But there were very few runs scored from the other end which ultimately led to the dismissal of Leus de Plooy in the fourth over. Jordan Cox hit three fours as the Capitals sealed the PowerPlay at 51 for 1. The Afghan spin duo of AM Ghazanfar and Rashid then began to choke the Capitals' batters. It then led to the wicket of Jahangir who was stumped off Rashid. Cox hit a timely six to break the shackles as the game was in the balance.

In the 13th over, Rashid castled Rovman Powell while Kamindu Mendis followed it up with the wicket of Dasun Shanaka. James Neesham was run-out for the Capitals to make matters worse as they lost three wickets in as many overs. Cox and Nabi revived the innings with a 23-run stand before Naveen picked up both set batters in the 19th over. With 16 needed off 6, Shepherd picked up Haider Ali and David Willey while Mustafizur was run-out in-between as MIE scraped home with seven runs to spare.

Brief Scores: MI Emirates 137 for 8 in 20 overs (Jonny Bairstow 67, Romario Shepherd 18; Mustafizur Rahman 3-34, Jawadullah 2-7) beat Dubai Capitals 130 in 20 overs (Jordan Cox 46, Shayan Jahangir 34; Rashid Khan 2-14, Romario Shepherd 2-25)by 7 runs