137 runs to defend. 49 runs were needed off 44 balls at one stage with the Dubai Capitals having eight wickets in hand. And from there, Kieron Pollard and Co. tightened the screws, built pressure with close-in fields, kept chipping wickets away, and put out a masterclass in defence, something we’ve seen the Blue and Gold do a zillion times across continents! 

From 89/2 to 130 all-out

Eight wickets | 41 runs. Each one to the pressure built up in the field. Allah Ghazanfar and Rashid Khan kept it extremely quiet in the middle overs. Rovman Powell got itchy and was cleaned up trying to force the run-scoring. Kamindu Mendis then struck to send the DC skipper, Dasun Shanaka back, and then the pacers returned, with cutters into the pitch that forced batters to hit against the angle towards the long boundaries, to dry up the boundaries and trigger the collapse. 

89-3 | 12.5

94-4 | 13.6

95-5 | 14.4

118-6 | 18.1

119-7 | 18.3

122-8 | 19.1

124-9 | 19.4

130-10 | 19.6

We have to talk about brilliance of Rashido

The man’s a genius. The batters didn’t just have to figure out which way the ball was turning, they even had to deal with Rashid releasing the ball from well behind the stumps. Both his wickets came in that fashion and it was his spell of 2/14 in four overs that brought MI Emirates back in the game after the Capitals got off to a quick start and when it looked like the game was beyond us. He has officially arrived at the desert party! 

Bairstow blazes single-handedly

MI Emirates’ too had their share of collapse with the bat, from 89/2 in the eleventh over to finish at an under-par 137. Jonny Bairstow stood tall through all this, smashing a 40-ball 67 studded with eight fours and three sixes. Also, let’s not forget Romario Shepherd’s 10-ball 18-run cameo at the end that infused some much-needed momentum and got MIE past 130.