Nabi's all-round show catapults Capitals to victory

Mohammad Nabi's all-round effort set the platform for a clinical 63-run victory as Dubai Capitals downed Sharjah Warriorz. After Sediqullah Atal's maiden ILT20 half-century set the tone, Nabi's unbeaten 38 off 19 balls, laced with three fours and as many sixes, propelled Capitals to 180 for 6. The bowlers then delivered a disciplined display to bundle the Warriorz out well short of the target. Waqar Salamkheil (3-22) and Nabi (3-23) led the charge, ably supported by Haider Ali (2-19) and Mustafizur Rahman (2-13), as Capitals handed the Warriorz their fourth defeat in six matches.

Asked to bat, Capitals had an early setback with Shayan Jahangir falling lbw to Sikandar Raza in the opening over. But Atal set the tone through the PowerPlay, finding the gaps and punishing anything short. Jordan Cox provided brisk support with a 28 off 19 before Taskin Ahmed's pace accounted for him, leaving Capitals at 50 for 2 after six overs. Atal carried on unfazed, bringing up his maiden ILT20 fifty with a pull off Wasim Akram and mixing placement with power to guide the team through the middle overs.

The momentum briefly stalled when Adil Rashid removed Leus du Plooy, but Nabi ensured the innings kicked on at the death. Drafted in as a super sub, Nabi smashed 38 off 19, taking on both spin and pace with a series of clean hits, including three sixes. Taskin struck back with a decisive final spell, removing Atal, Dasun Shanaka and David Willey to finish with 3 for 40, yet Nabi's assault, highlighted by a towering 94-metre six off Taskin, lifted Capitals from 154 for 5 to 180 for 6 and gave their bowlers a good enough total to defend.

In the chase, the Warriorz never quite found the momentum against a disciplined Capitals attack. Although Tom Kohler-Cadmore began brightly with a couple of boundaries, Mustafizur Rahman struck early to remove Johnson Charles, and the pressure soon told. Haider Ali then made decisive inroads, accounting for Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell to leave the chase wobbling at 45 for 5 in the sixth over. Sikandar Raza briefly counter-punched with a few crisp hits to lift the tempo. Even so, regular wickets meant the asking rate kept climbing, with spin doing most of the damage as the Capitals tightened their grip.

James Rew was the lone source of resistance, compiling 47 off 38 balls, but he found little support as Waqar Salamkheil and Nabi ran through the middle and lower order. Salamkheil picked up key wickets, including Raza and Dwaine Pretorius, while Nabi returned to finish the job with a telling final spell. After Mustafizur's cutter removed Adil Rashid, Nabi cleaned up the tail, dismissing Wasim Akram and finally bowling Rew with a full delivery that sneaked under the slog-sweep.

Brief scores: Dubai Capitals 180/6 in 20 overs (Sediqullah Atal 66, Mohammad Nabi 38*; Taskin Ahmed 3-40) beat Sharjah Warriorz 117 in 17 overs (James Rew 47; Waqar Salamkheil 3-22, Mohammad Nabi 3-23) by 63 runs.