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It wasn't meant to be :(It was a disappointing end to a campaign that promised so much. MI Emirates had their moments right through the league stage, moments of players stepping up and putting on a show, moments of our team spirit coming through as we pulled home in tense finishes, moments of joy for all our fans around the globe. While this Eliminator might have been our last outing in this year’s ILT20, we can hold our heads high for all the fight and the entertainment MI Emirates put up over the last month.&nbsp;Head Coach, Robin Singh, summed up the tournament, “It was a mix. Some of the players played well. Few guys were consistent. The bowling was good in patches. It was a continuation of both good and bad. You have to play well in the big games and the big moments, which we didn’t do today,” he said at the post-match press conference on Thursday (February 6).&nbsp;With Tom Banton becoming the highest run-scorer this year, Nicholas Pooran leading the troops brilliantly, the fast bowlers forming an amazing unit and complementing each other brilliantly, the positives were there for everyone to see.&nbsp;“I think Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled really well for us. Last year we had (Trent) Boulty and Dwayne Bravo, they were the more experienced guys. So he took on that. Tom Banton was exceptional as well. Nicholas played well. Zahoor actually bowled really well. The UAE boys did far better than what people would have expected. This exposure would have been good for them,” said Robin.&nbsp;We will be back stronger. It hurts to have not defended our crown, but the Blue and Gold army will return in 2026 with a vengeance. This is MI team. We are MI Emirates.&nbsp;

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Wasn't meant to be, but thank you for the entertainment, MI Team, MI Emirates

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We tried, we fought, we gave it our all, but it wasn’t to be. MI Emirates, the defending champions, will bow out of this year’s ILT20. It wasn’t our best game with the bat. But the bowlers refused to throw in the towel. The Sharjah Warriorz needed 23 runs off 24 balls at one stage, but through some superb death bowling, it was brought down to 20 being needed off 14. Alas..&nbsp;Skipper Pooran’s Captain’s knockAfter Andre Fletcher fell in the first over, Will Jacks, making his MI Emirates debut and Tom Banton, the man in form, got together to steady the ship with useful contributions. But the biggest impetus to the innings came in the form of skipper Nicholas Pooran’s stroke-filled 22-ball 42, with six fours and a six. However, after he fell in the 13th over, the rest of the batters couldn’t quite give the MI Emirates innings that finish, ending with an under-par 146/8.&nbsp;Rohid, Farooqi help claw back&nbsp;The Warriorz were off to a quick start, getting to 49 inside the fifth over when Muhammad Rohid struck to send back Jonshon Charles. Fazalhaq Farooqi, coming in as the impact substitute, got rid of the other opener, Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Together, the two bowed the 17th and the 18th overs of the innings as well, conceding just nine runs to ensure the asking rate went beyond seven an over.&nbsp;It wasn’t to be!Tim Seifert killed it with three fours and a six in the span of seven balls. While the pressure was building with every dot ball, Seifert took control in the 18th over, kept the strike for the 19th, and took his side home.&nbsp;

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MIEvSW report: A super fightback in the end, but alas, it ends here! :(

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The big-hitting England all-rounder, Will Jacks, is all set to join MI Emirates for the remainder of the 2025 season of the ILT20 as a wild card signing.&nbsp;A dynamite with the willow and a handy off-spinner, this 26-year-old has racked up over 5,000 T20 runs with a jaw-dropping strike rate of 157+ in addition to picking more than 50 wickets. Furthermore, he can prove to be indomitable in powerplays, a true game-changer we can count on. Add his wicket-taking knack with the ball and you’ve got an all-round gem.As we enter the playoffs with the Eliminator (February 6) against the Sharjah Warriorz, Abu Dhabi is all set to witness some extra firepower!&nbsp;

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Will Jacks: Welcome MI Emirates’ Wild Card signing

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Talk about quick redemption. The team we lost to in our final league stage, a loss that denied us a top two finish, is the team we are facing in this Eliminator. It was a game for us to forget, and guess what, we have a chance to put that behind us immediately.&nbsp;The road now is simple. While MI Emirates were left in a bit of suspense after the last league game, the task at hand is crystal clear now. We have three games, each one’s a knockout. There are no retakes. The Sharjah Warriorz, a team Tom Banton absolutely loves (courtesy a century and an 84 in the two games), are up in front. They are in our backyard, in our home ground. Oh, bring it on!&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Sharjah WarriorzWhen: February 6, 2025 | 18:30 local time, 20:00 ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu DhabiWhat to expect: What a knockout game does is bring in the pressure. But knowing our free-flowing batters, they barely know that word. We are motivated, we are aggressive, and we are coming for that title!&nbsp;

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Eliminator | MIEvSW preview: What we need: Three Ws, and an instant redemption

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It really was some debut. A wicket off the first ball he bowled, six wickets for just 12 runs, the best IPL bowling figures till date, and a key figure in an epic 2019 for Mumbai Indians. Alzarri Joseph is currently plying his trade at MI Emirates in the ILT20, a tournament he’s lighting up as well with his fiery spells. Here he is, in an exclusive chat with miemirates.com, speaking about that&nbsp;debut, sharing the dressing room with legends, his growth into becoming an all-format bowler, his pace and much more. Excerpts..&nbsp;Your spell of 6/12 in the 2019 IPL season is still a part of MI folklore. They still happen to be the best bowling figures in IPL history. What are your memories of that day and how it happened?Oh I remember that day. It was my IPL debut and it was a very special day for me considering the end result was also a win. The thing that stands for me about that day was that I took a wicket off the first ball. It was David Warner, a very important wicket in the context of that game. He was one of their top batters who could’ve taken the game away from us. That opened the game for us and set the tone for the rest of my spell. There was a lot of celebration and I got a lot of congratulations. I wasn’t aware it was a record until after the game. But it was a very good feeling to have everyone rally around you in the first game in a big franchise like Mumbai Indians.&nbsp;That 2019 season was a special one for MI. Although you got injured midway, you played a key role in the team reaching the playoffs. How do you look back at that year?It was very good to contribute to a title-winning season. I played three games but all in all, to be a part of it, to see it happen. I got the injury but I stayed along until the end of the season and celebrated with the guys as well. It was really good to be a part of that. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How was it like to share the dressing room with Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah, two of the greatest bowlers in T20 history?It was electric to see how these guys work. Malinga is Malinga, he’s the best at what he does. If you look at Bumrah, there’s not much you can say about him that’s not legendary. He’s just an all-time great. You get to watch these guys and pick up a few things. It was a good learning curve for me at that time and that age to take that experience into my game.&nbsp;At MI Emirates now, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Rohid and you have been a formidable trio with the ball, often sharing the spoils amongst yourselves. A word on them and how the three of you complement each other?We are three different types of bowlers. The other two are two left-handers but different types of bowlers. Farooqi is exceptional with the new ball. He swings the ball both ways, bowls a bouncer if you’re looking for it and also has a lethal yorker with the new and old ball. Myself, whenever I get an opportunity to bowl in the powerplay, I just try and hit my lengths and get whatever help is available. I try and be aggressive and take early wickets. Rohid, well, is an exceptional talent. I watch him in practice every day and he practices as hard as he trains. I admire that about him. In the games he has played so far, he is always coming at you. Even if you hit him a few times, he’s still coming at you. That’s a really good attitude to have and I just love how he goes about his work.&nbsp;Nicholas Pooran is someone you’ve played with for a long time and have seen grow into the batting legend that he is today. How do you see his growth as both a player and a leader?If you’ve been following Pooran from the start, he was very raw and explosive. Now, he’s grown in batsmanship. He’s become mature, taken responsibility in his batting. For example, against Gulf Giants, he was seven off 21 and waited for the right moment to go big and bring the game home for us. That’s really good to see how he’s matured. As a leader he goes on instinct most times. He would get a gut feeling like, ‘okay, let’s bring Farooqi on, he’s going to open the game for us’. And it happens correctly 80 percent of the time. I don’t know how he does it but it works most times.&nbsp;You are one of the rare bowlers who plays all three formats regularly in international cricket. What is the secret sauce?For me, what I have in my favour, is that my action is very simple. My run-up is very simple and not strenuous on my body. So for me, it is not about strength, it is about taking the momentum from my action to the crease. So it is a lot easier for me to go on for longer. It is easier for me to switch between formats. It goes down to the foundation I put in into my strength and conditioning for many years. It’s now just about topping up and ensuring I recover properly after every game to be ready for the next one.&nbsp;And the secret behind you hitting 145kph consistently over long spells?I can’t tell you (laughs). I have no idea. To be fair, I don’t think I was always bowling this quick. I was reasonably quick at some point, but I don’t think I was this consistent. It could just be playing the longer format for so long, that action being repeated all the time and everything being consistent. So it just has to do with my action being consistent.&nbsp;

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EXCLUSIVE Interview | Alzarri Joseph on Pooran, Bumrah, Farooqi and much more…

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Tom Banton, with his knock of 84 against the Sharjah Warriorz, has become the highest run-scorer in this year’s ILT20. Although he had another fantastic outing with the bat, MI Emirates had a game they’d quickly like to move on from and put behind them. He was out at the post-match press conference sharing his thoughts. Excerpts..&nbsp;Thoughts on the game&nbsp;The day didn’t go as well as we’d have liked. Towards the end they bowled really well. Tim Southee bowled a really good last over. Sometimes you have to say well done to them. Disappointing day for us but we’ve qualified. It was something we said at the start of the tournament, and we have a chance to win the trophy again.&nbsp;On becoming the highest run-scorer in this year’s ILT20I’m not thinking too far, hopefully try and win this tournament for MIE. Taking each game as it comes and don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. I just want to contribute to us winning.&nbsp;On the race for the playoffs&nbsp;Everyone still is in with a chance to qualify which is quite exciting for the league. We are through and am not sure if we are second, third or fourth at the moment. It depends on how the rest of the results go.&nbsp;Whether the team was complacent going into this gameDefinitely not. Other people are allowed to play well. It wasn’t to be for us today, but we’ve got a big week coming up with the final a week from today, so hopefully we’ll be there.&nbsp;

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“Disappointed, but sometimes you have to say well done to the opposition”: Tom Banton

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Nope, not the best of outings on the field for us. A few dropped chances, a couple of mishaps and a game we’d like to put behind us quickly as we brace up for the playoffs. It’s not a major worry, we have qualified for the playoffs already and would have to wait until tomorrow for the other results to know if we happen to be in the top two. Let’s relive this game for now..Waseem, Perera smash it around&nbsp;After being put in to bat first, Andre Fletcher fell to a run-out pretty early, but then his fellow opener Muhammad Waseem carried on his good form from the previous game with an 18-ball 21. Kusal Perera, who’s been a bit quiet with the bat by his own standards so far, roared back in style with a 23-ball 31, giving MI Emirates a solid start.&nbsp;Banton vs Sharjah Warriors – Another masterclass&nbsp;After his scintillating century the last time these two sides met, he put on another show. Six fours, five sixes and a 51-ball 84 against his name. He almost single-handedly carried the team in the last ten overs to put up a total of 173.&nbsp;An off day on the field&nbsp;On a pitch that was a belter, this target was a tad under par. It didn’t help that we weren’t at our best in our fielding either. Tom Kohler-Cadmore batted superbly for his 91, Jason Roy and Matthew Wade provided good support, and the Warriorz chased down the target.&nbsp;Let’s quickly regroup and ready up. We will be playing our first play-off game in a couple of days. Let’s get the MIE spirit going!

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MIEvSW report: Another Banton special, but a day to forget and move on

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The job at hand is clear. With ten points and a net run-rate of +1.028, we are currently sitting pretty on the second spot, and a playoff spot should be ours unless there’s some major upset. But why even leave things to chance. We have our fate in our control. Let’s bring home a W, thereby get a Q&nbsp;against our name, and a place in the top two as well to ensure two bites at the cherry.&nbsp;The Sharjah Warriorz, who are on eight points are up next. The last time we met them, Tom Banton’s century got us home in a hurry. They would be desperate to win this as well, which should guarantee them a playoff spot. But with two wins on the trot now, we have the momentum and we are all set to get on a roll in the business end.&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz&nbsp;When: February 2, 2025 | 14:00 local time, 15:30 IST&nbsp;Where: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu DhabiWhat to expect: Another fierce content. With everything to play for, expect fireworks with both bat and ball.&nbsp;

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Match 10 | MIEvSW preview: Not just a Q, let’s seal a top two finish as well 

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Nothing ever, NOTHING EVER looks impossible when you have Nicholas Pooran out in the middle. Calm, calculated, never to give up, he took us across the finish line, putting MI Emirates right at the cusp of a playoff berth. Let’s go chronologically.&nbsp;A complete bowling effortAlthough James Vince got a solid 86, our bowlers did a superb job to keep the rest of the batters in check, eventually only allowing the Gulf Giants to get to 173, a par score on this surface. Only five bowlers were used and each of them were among the wickets.&nbsp;The perfect start with the bat, ft. WaseemMuhammad Waseem got MI Emirates off to a flier, with two fours and two sixes in his 10-ball 26. Andre Fletcher too laid the platform with 31, but at 71/4 in the 11th over, we were in a spot of bother.&nbsp;The Nicky P showWith the asking rate mounting, he didn’t have the luxury of getting himself in. But he didn’t need to. He’s in some fine form at the moment, and tonight, more than his shots, it was the way he played the field and the situation that stood out. With debutant Bevon Jacobs for company, he rebuilt the innings. 84 were needed off the last six overs, a steep task.&nbsp;The Windies go wild!Romario Shepherd soon walked out with Bevon holing out. 13 came off the 15th over, 17 came off the 16th, 17 came off the 17th, 12 off the 18th and 19 off the 19th. 19.1: A massive slog over deep mid-wicket, and VICTORY WAS OURS. The heartbreak from the previous game had been avenged!

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GGvMIE report: Game. Set. Match. Pooran aces a thriller!

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In a chase of 173, the start was always going to be key for the MI Emirates. Muhammad Waseem, who’d had a quiet tournament so far by his own admission, took it upon himself to get the team off to a flier tonight, which he did with a 10-ball 26. He was at the post-match press-conference talking about his batting, UAE cricket, the playoffs. Excerpts..&nbsp;On his inningsI felt like I got starts in all matches. But I kept getting out in unlucky ways. But it is important that the team kept winning. I’m happy with the way I batted today.&nbsp;Reasons behind his lack of runs in earlier gamesThe pitches have been good. ILT20 is among the top leagues in the world and the bowling has been top class. You could say I didn’t play all that well this year, but I feel I would play well in the important matches to come.&nbsp;Thoughts on the impact of ILT20 on UAE cricketIt is a proud moment for all our UAE players and the team. Our players get to share the dressing room and learn from the big players from around the world. I have learnt a lot from (Nicholas) Pooran and (Kieron) Pollard.&nbsp;On wanting to finish in the top twoWe have 10 points and have a good net run-rate. We will look to finish in the top two. The plan is simple, we just have to stick to it. At one point it looked like we were nowhere in the game, but we won with five balls to spare.&nbsp;On the local UAE players&nbsp;There is very good talent in the UAE. There are some good players on the bench as well. They’ll hopefully come through next year.&nbsp;

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“Felt like I got starts in all games, happy to have done well today”: Muhammad Waseem

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We have news, folks. Bevan John Jacobs, the big-hitting Kiwi middle-order batter &nbsp;is all set to join the MI Emirates for the remainder of the ILT20 2025 season.&nbsp;He made headlines a few months earlier when he was picked up by Mumbai Indians at the IPL Auction, and then soon made his way into the New Zealand T20I squad against Sri Lanka as well. He’s coming in on the back of some big runs under his belt and is going to love joining this power-packed middle-order.He hit a magnificent 20-ball 42 on his debut for Canterbury in the Super Smash 2023-24 curtain raiser. Almost a year later, he registered fifties in both innings of his maiden First-Class match for Auckland.He also has a T20 century to his name. The 22-year-old scored 100 off 40 balls for South Brisbane against Toombull on the final day of the Queensland T20 Max 2023-24 competition.Kieron Pollard, our warrior, who’s played a major role in our campaign over the last three years, is heading home owing to some personal reasons. We thank him and are charged up to lift the trophy for the big man!

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Bevan John joins MI Emirates for remainder of ILT20 2025

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It’s heating up. With just three days to go in the league stage, we still have three playoff spots up for grabs. Three teams are on six points, two are on eight. &nbsp;There’s everything to play for!&nbsp;The sub-plot within this plot is what happened the last time when MI Emirates and the Gulf Giants faced each other. Sparks flew, the action was gripping, there was a bit of sportsmanship on display, but we ended up losing the game off the final ball. We have enough to avenge. We also have a top two spot to stake claim. And it begins now.&nbsp;What: Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: January 31, 2025 | 18:30 GST, 20:00 IST&nbsp;Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai&nbsp;What to expect: Another nail-biter of a contest with both sides having plenty to play for. We are coming off a historic 154-run win and we cannot wait to carry on with this momentum..&nbsp;

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Match 9 | GGvMIE preview: Time to fix the last-ball heartbreak and book a playoff spot

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A 198-run stand doesn’t happen every day. Andre Fletcher, back in the team after missing out on the last few games, stamped his presence in the side immediately, sending the opposition bowlers on a leather hunt. He was at the post-match press conference sharing his thoughts. Excerpts..&nbsp;On his record partnership with Tom BantonHonestly, I had no idea. We were trying to run as hard as possible between the wickets and make use of the boundary option when it came. I am super happy for Tom Banton, the way he played. It just shows that he is very consistent and is sticking to his strengths. I am very happy to be contributing as well. We have to continue from strength to strength. It is not over.&nbsp;On the conversations while batting in the middleWe were talking to each other. There is a big side and a small side to this ground. We were trying to run as much as possible when it went to the big side and put them under pressure. They haven’t been a good fielding team so that helped. It’s all about sticking to our strength as well. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.&nbsp;Thoughts on being dropped after the first two games&nbsp;It’s all about combinations. I played the first game and it all about what is best for the team. That never dampened my spirit. I always know that once anyone goes out and performs for MI Emirates, everyone would be happy for them. I got the opportunity and I performed today. I wouldn’t say I got dropped. No one in the team got dropped. It is about doing what is best for the team.On missing out on a centuryIt would have been nice to get it. But at the end of the day, I did what the team required. Batting as deep as possible, that is what matters. Maybe one day it could be me again, you never know. I just look to enjoy the moment.&nbsp;On the conditions on offerIt wasn’t easy. The ball was doing a bit upfront. It was about trying to bat as long as possible, pickup singles when necessary and then capitalize on the bad balls. We realize the longer we bat, especially in Abu Dhabi, a set batter puts the other team under pressure. It is our home ground and we had to make use of our conditions, and we did just that.&nbsp;On winning the battle against Mohammad AmirWe all know he is a class bowler. Some days you get it wrong, some days you get it right. Unfortunately, it was on the bad side for him. As a batter, I was happy. When he gets it right, we know how difficult he can be to play.On Abu Dhabi being a second home&nbsp;T10 is being played here as well. I am lucky to be playing T10 every season. I have an idea about the wicket but that doesn’t mean that I can just go out and fire. It is all about the conditions. Some days it might be different, so you just have to assess and then accelerate.&nbsp;

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“Super happy for Tom Banton”: Andre Fletcher on the record batting stand

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The Desert Vipers are on a roll. They’ve won six out of their seven games. Taming them would be the best possible way to put yesterday’s last-ball heartbreak behind us. The last time these two sides met, Sherfane Rutherford’s cameo at the end and Fakhar Zaman’s half-century steered the Vipers home in Dubai. This time they come over to our territory. They run into a team that’s on a mission to turn things around after a couple of tough losses. &nbsp;There have been a lot of positives for MI Emirates in these first seven games. All our batters have stepped up in different games, and the likes of Dan Mousley and Tom Banton have announced their arrival. With the likes of Sam Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Wanindu Hasaranga in the opposition, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t brace up for another thriller.&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers&nbsp;When: January 27, 2025 | 18:30 GST, 20:00 IST Where: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp; What to expect: More fireworks. This season has produced a bunch of nail-biters already. While the trend for captains winning the toss is to bat first, Gulf Giants winning while chasing yesterday seems to have bucked that trend too. Should be a fascinating game.&nbsp;

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Match 8 | MIEvDV preview: Time to tame the table-toppers

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The table toppers have been humbled, in some style. Not only did the MI Emirates batters pile on a total of 228/2, the bowlers went on to dismiss the Desert Vipers for just 74 runs, the joint lowest total in the history of the ILT20.&nbsp;It’s just the performance we needed after a couple of tough losses. Oh, this was some game. Let’s relive it..&nbsp;Andre Fletcher, comes, conquers!&nbsp;Back in the side and opening the innings, Andre Fletcher put on a serious show. 10 fours, three sixes, and a 50-ball 96. He played second fiddle at first, taking his time to settle in, and in typical fashion, went on a tonking spree at the death.&nbsp;Tom Banton, take a bow!&nbsp;Eight games, two fifties, two centuries. Banton is in the middle of the purplest of purple patches. Tonight was just an extension of the same. He was the enforcer at first, walking in after Muhammad Waseem fell in the third over. And it was pure carnage for the bowlers, with nine fours and seven sixes in his 55-ball 105. Together with Fletcher in a 198-run stand, the duo sent the Vipers on a leather hunt, and helped MI Emirates amass 228.&nbsp;The procession beginsFive wickets fell inside the powerplay, with the seamers Alzarri Joseph, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rohid Khan sharing the spoils. And it was just downhill from there for the Desert Vipers, as every bowling change turned to gold. “We had some tough conversations with the players and they went out and executed exactly what we planned,” said a pleased skipper, Nicholas Pooran at the end of the game.&nbsp;That’s right. We are back to winning ways and with this huge boost in the net run-rate tonight, have firmly cemented the second spot on the points table. Onwards and upwards now!

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MIEvDV report: Banton, Fletcher headline whopping 154-run win

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The Gulf Giants needed one run off the last three balls. Dan Mousley, the yorker master, nailed the first yorker in, which Tom Curran could only defend. The next one was even better, right on the base of off-stump , past Curran’s attempted squeeze, sending him back to the pavilion. A new batter was in, one run was needed off one ball. We’d pulled it back superbly to get to this point.&nbsp;Alas, it’s a low full tossMuhammad Zuhaib was on strike. Mousley had nailed five yorkers in a row, executing them to perfection. But the last ball of the over ended up being a low full toss that Zuhaib could sweep away. The Giants got home. We were left with broken hearts.&nbsp;Banton bashes, againFor the fourth time in the season, Tom Banton got himself a big score, this time a 39-ball 56 as he batted around the rest of the batters getting out quickly, with MI Emirates at 57/4 in the 11th over at one stage. He found good company in the ever-reliable Kieron Pollard, who smashed a 25-ball 34 to ensure we finished strong with 151 on the board.&nbsp;A tug of war all along&nbsp;While Alzarri Joseph and Fazalhaq Farooqi struck early, Tom Alsop and Gerhard Erasmus got the Gulf Giants back a bit with 30s respectively. But wickets kept falling at regular intervals and at no stage was the game in anybody’s control. Sadly, we won’t have the two points at the end of it.&nbsp;Spirit of Cricket, ft. MI Emirates&nbsp;There was some confusion at the end of the 18th over when Tom Curran left his crease after taking a single off the last ball assuming the over to have been called. But Pooran whipped the balls off, the third umpire too gave it out, but MI Emirates withdrew the appeal and Curran was allowed to continue batting. A solid case of upholding the Spirit of the Game here was on show.&nbsp;

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MIEvGG report: Mousley bravely nails yorker after yorker, but Giants seal it off the last ball

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It was really close. It was nail-biting. But unfortunately, we ended up on the wrong side of the result. Alzarri Joseph, after bowling his heart out, was at the post-match press conference. Excerpts..&nbsp;Thoughts on the gameYeah, pretty close. There were few key moments where we could have done a few things differently. But we just have to learn from our mistakes today.&nbsp;On withdrawing the run-out appeal against Tom CurranIn the moment, the ball was on the way back when he left the crease. It was out, but the umpires had already called over, so there’s nothing we could do about that.&nbsp;His favourite moments in the ILT20 so far&nbsp;It’s a really good league. It is my first time playing it and I have been enjoying it so far. The special moments have been the matches we have won. Looking to play some good cricket and get some more points on the board.&nbsp;On what the team could have done differently&nbsp;There can be quite a few. I think in the field we could have stopped a few runs. Maybe we could have bowled different balls to different plans. But this is cricket. You make mistakes and you have to learn from it. We know where we went wrong, so we have to put this match behind us and look forward to the next one.&nbsp;

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“The umpires had called ‘over’, nothing we could do about it”: Alzarri on withdrawing the run-out appeal against Curran

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There’s no time to mourn the loss against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. While we fought hard towards the end but couldn’t get a W against our name, these back-to-back games with a turnaround time of less than 24 hours gives us the opportunity to put this behind us quickly and get back on the winning horse.&nbsp;The Gulf Giants are up next, a team we haven’t faced so far in the tournament. They are currently sixth on the points table and must be desperate to get their campaign going. This is the business end where every game matters. Three teams are currently tied on six points and while MI Emirates hold onto the second spot thanks to their solid NRR, it’s time to cement it further with two more points at home.&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants&nbsp;When: January 25, 2025 | 18:30 GST, 20:00 ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: On what should be a used pitch, batting might not be as free-flowing as some of the other games have been at Abu Dhabi. Also, batting first seems to have become the trend in the second half of the tournament.&nbsp;

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Match 7 | MIEvGG preview: Back-to-back games, let’s move on quickly

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A tough game, a tough loss, but a quick opportunity to turn it around given how quickly games are coming in this tournament. Dan Mousley, who fought hard after MI Emirates’ initial collapse in the powerplay, spoke to the media at the end of play in the post-match press conference. Excerpts..Whether he thought bowling first was a mistakeObviously we won the toss and bowled first. It was a good option I thought. We bowled pretty well. Alishan (Sharafu) played really well in the middle and Jason (Holder) struck it really well in the end. To be fair, it was one of those games where they got a little too many for us in the end and losing early wickets didn’t help the situation. Stuttering through the middle didn’t help either. It was one of those games where we were outplayed.&nbsp;On whether Pollard needs to come up the order&nbsp;I won’t say he came in late because he came in the powerplay. Ideally you don’t want him batting in the powerplay. I thought he played a brilliant knock and showed how good he is. How he played todays showed why he’s one of the best T20 players in the world.&nbsp;On his batting tonightI just didn’t bat very well. It is one of those things to take it as deep as you can. It didn’t come off. We’ll dust ourselves and go again tomorrow.&nbsp;On hoping for an England callup given his good form&nbsp;Not really thought about it to be honest. I am just trying to do my best for MI Emirates. I am one of those players who likes to stay in the moment. If it happens it happens. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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“Polly showed just why he’s one of the best T20 players in the world”: Dan Mousley

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Sadly, this was quite the repeat of the previous game between these two sides with roles reversed. While the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders four wickets in the powerplay the other night, we met with a similar fate tonight, and it was just too tough to recover from there. Let’s go chronologically..&nbsp;Alzarri applied early brakes&nbsp;With the wickets of Kyle Mayers and Michael Pepper off successive balls in the powerplay, Alzarri Joseph played a key role in ensuring the Knight Riders didn’t have all the momentum with them in the powerplay. But Andries Gous, Charith Asalanka and Alishan Sharafu chipped in with useful contributions, along with Jason Holder’s seven-ball blitz of 22 runs to lift them to 182/7.&nbsp;Our powerplay collapse&nbsp;15-1 (Kusal Perera, 1.3)16-2 (Tom Banton, 2.1)17-3 (Nicholas Pooran, 3.2)36-4 (Muhammad Waseem, 5.3)Kyle Mayers was the wrecker-in-chief, and MI Emirates were left to rebuild the innings despite a steep asking rate.&nbsp;Pollard, the fighter!When Dan Mousley and Kieron Pollard got together, the asking rate was already touching 10 an over. Polly wasted no time hanging around. He turned the strike over aggressively, struck four fours and four sixes in his 49-ball 69, but he just didn’t have enough support going from the other end.&nbsp;It’s a slight blip, folks, nothing more. The good thing is we have no time to mourn over this, with our next game coming in less than 24 hours with the Gulf Giants coming over. It’s the first time we’ll be facing them this season, and it should be a cracker!

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MIEvADKR report: Polly smacks a fighting 69, but alas, we go down 

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We’re officially into the second half. And we officially have the momentum with us. We returned to Abu Dhabi for the last game, but this is our Home fixture. It’s a repeat clash against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, a team against whom we enjoy a solid record.&nbsp;Oh the previous game was a proper cracker. The openers got us off to a blazing start, Nicholas Pooran was clinical as ever, Romario Shepherd went berserk at the death like only he can, Akeal Hosein showed once again just why he’s the number one T20I bowler in the world, Zahoor Khan was accurate, and despite the slight scare at the end, MI Emirates had the game well under control all along.&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders&nbsp; When: January 24, 2025 | 18:30 GST, 20:00 IST&nbsp; Where: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp; What to expect: Another belter of a pitch with a bit in it for everyone. It’s our chance to strengthen our position in the top two on the points table.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Match 6 | MIEvADKR preview: The Abu Dhabi bragging rights, take two!

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Another day, another tidy spell. Not for nothing is Akeal Hosein the number one T20I bowler in the ICC player rankings. With figures of 1/25 in his four overs where he trapped Joe Clarke LBW, he played a major role in not letting ADKR cut loose in the powerplay. Here he is, at the post-match press conference, sharing his thoughts.. &nbsp;Thoughts on the match and the conditions&nbsp;I thought it was a good cricket wicket. It is a new ADKR with Dwayne Bravo at the helm. We know whatever he touches turns to gold. It was a well put together match. We stuck to our plans and it got us home in the end.&nbsp;Whether the team was worried when Russell and Narine were battingMaybe one or two balls, the bowlers weren’t clear. But that said, we didn’t panic at all. We backed ourselves, backed our skills. We stuck to our instructions and tried to play the dimensions of the field as well.&nbsp;On being number one T20I bowler in the worldIt’s always a good feeling to be at the top of your class in whatever field, in whatever you are doing. Now it is about continuing to put in the good work, stay humble. When you are at the top, everyone is trying to get that spot.&nbsp;On MI Emirates’ bowling lineupWe do have a young bowling lineup. With that comes a lot of skill. There is some experience as well. So I think it is a very exciting bunch. It is a close knit bunch as well. Our team is not very different from last year. We are quite familiar with each other and feed off each other. In the spin department, we try and share information whoever bowls the first ball as a spinner. Same for fast bowlers as well.&nbsp;On making plans with PooranFor me, Nicholas Pooran is the best batter in the world. He is number one. Wherever myself and Nicholas go, we come up with a challenge within a challenge. Why not ask him a couple of questions. We come up with different deliveries that work against different batters. It is something we enjoy. It is always great to enjoy the brains of the best batter giving you tips and cues of what he thinks batters may be thinking.&nbsp;Thoughts on ILT20, the competition&nbsp;I think it is fantastic. From year one to year three, you can see a lot of maturity shown with the local players. They are fantastic now. You can’t look at them as weaklings as people may have taken them for in the first season. We all know it is a difficult competition with nine overseas players. It is only going to grow from strength to strength as the years go by.On having a lot of West Indians on both sides&nbsp;When you look at both teams, there are a lot of familiar faces. A lot of guys know each other in different teams as well. It is one of those games when you come up against each other, there is going to be secrets spilt. But it always fun to look forward to and share a laugh at the end of the game. After cricket there is life. It is always nice to catch up with the boys. It is a challenge to come up with players who know you well. It always gives you that little kick to perform against opponents who actually know your game.&nbsp;

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“Great to have the best batter giving you tips and cues”: Akeal on bowling with Pooran keeping

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&nbsp;The aim was to win two in a row and end the one-win, one-loss trend. Well, we’ve achieved it in style. The first match in the back-to-back Abu Dhabi derby is ours, and with that, we sit comfortably on second spot in the points table. Let’s relive the game.&nbsp;Perera, Waseem get us off to a solid startNot the explosive finish we’re used to from these two, but the MI Emirates openers got the team off to a quick start in the powerplay. Muhammad Waseem finished with a 35-ball 38, Kusal Perera with a 20-ball 23.&nbsp;Pooran stands tall amidst the mini collapse&nbsp;From 80/1 in 10 overs, the team had a slight slip as both Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem fell in quick succession. Kieron Pollard and Dan Mousley couldn’t get going either. But despite all this, skipper Nicky P kept the scoring rate going.&nbsp;Romario goes wild&nbsp;His stand with Pooran was the difference between what looked like a score of 160, and the 186 it ended up being. Romario Shepherd was dropped when he was on 2, and in his next eight balls went – 1, 4, 4, 6, 4, 4, 6, 6. 60 runs came off the last three overs, and Pooran too took a liking for Jason Holder’s death bowling.&nbsp;Match sealed in the powerplay with the ball&nbsp;The ADKR openers were off to a quick start, getting to 39/0 in 3.5 overs. But a run-out from Dan Mousley to get rid of Kyle Mayers triggered a collapse that saw them lose four wickets inside the powerplay itself. After that they were always playing catchup, and despite Andre Russell’s late cameo, we were able to seal a comprehensive win.&nbsp;

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ADKRvMIE report: Abu Dhabi derby conquered, ft. Pooran blitz, Romario cameo 

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Very rarely at the halfway mark do you get two teams with exactly the same campaign. This is one such time. MI Emirates and the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders both started off with a loss, won the second, lost the third and have now won the fourth with ease.&nbsp;They’re set to clash at home, our shared home in Abu Dhabi in the first of back-to-back games. It’s a wonderful rivalry this where we enjoy the upper hand. It’s the perfect time for us to gain some momentum in the tournament as we head into the second half.&nbsp;&nbsp;What: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: January 21, 2025 | 18:30 GST, 20:00 ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: This is a chasing ground. Also, this should be fun battle of the West Indians with Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph on the MI Emirates side squaring off against Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder. There’s always spice when such bragging rights are at stake.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Match 5 | ADKRvMIE preview: Both teams with L,W,L,W campaigns looking to break the jinx

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He fought, and then had fun while he conquered this chase. Tom Banton, after turning his innings around and putting on that fine show, was at the post-match press-conference. Excerpts..&nbsp;Thoughts on his inningsThe first 25 balls, I did find tough. In the past I probably would have given it away, but now I feel I have got the responsibility. Nicholas Pooran speaks a lot about that to take it deep if it is your day. In the first ten balls or so, I was still on nought. It’s funny how cricket can change so quickly. I gave myself a chance and it came off.&nbsp;On the conversation with Kusal Mendis in the last overHe said, ‘you are two hits away’. I told him you’re too kind. But I told him at one point to finish this off quickly. Luckily I had two balls where I hit two sixes which was a great feeling. It’s a special day and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.Whether he rates this as his best inningsI’d probably say so. I just want to contribute to the team wherever I am playing. I never say it is easy. Cricket is such a funny game. I was struggling at the start of my innings. I just told myself to stay calm. You are 2-3 balls from getting to a strike rate of 100 and you can go from there. We had one win in three and we had to win.&nbsp;Whether he’s been changing his batting approachI don’t think too far into that stuff. My job is to push pressure on the bowlers and score as quickly as I can, look to take my matchups when I can. It was a great day for me. We have to move on now and get ready for the next game.&nbsp;On facing Tim Southee and Adam MilneTim Southee and Adam Milne are probably two of the greatest bowlers the game has ever seen. Adam Milne bowled superbly upfront. You have to respect good bowling when there are world class bowlers. They are not going to put it on a plate for you. I kind of tried but it didn’t come off, but it was a good day.&nbsp;

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