A chase of 125 done in 17.3 overs is what the scorecard would tell you, but boy, it was tense! On a tricky pitch, with not a lot of dew either, the batters were struggling to get on with the scoring. But in the end, it was down to the experience of our senior pros that ensured panic didn’t set in and MI Emirates got home the two points to inch closer to a Q.

Our true heroes, our bowlers 

Nobody took a three-fer or ran through the Desert Vipers’ batting lineup, but it was the bowlers who set this win up, ensuring none of their batters got going and plucking regular wickets to keep them to 124/7 in their 20 overs. Shakib Al Hasan was at his miserly best, giving away just 14 runs in his four overs, picking two wickets along the way. Just unplayable stuff! 

Welcome to the party, Sanjay Krishnamurthi 

He got a chance to bat tonight at 51/3, and with Shakib not quite getting going at the other end, he reversed the pressure with a two huge sixes in his crucial 18-ball knock of 21. 

And then Polly does Polly things 

He didn’t waste time getting his eye in. Walking in to bat at 79/5 and the team in a spot of bother with the asking rate over six an over, Kieron Pollard decided to take down leggie Qais Ahmad, smashing him for 18 runs in the 15^th over and virtually killing the game in the process. Here’s how it went: 

Ball 1: DOT – defended 

Ball 2: SIX – full toss, smoked over deep mid-wicket 

Ball 3: SIX – another full toss, another hoick over deep mid-wicket 

Ball 4: DOT – appeal for LBW, but saved by the inside-edge 

Ball 5: FOUR – flat ball, slapped just past a diving fielder down the ground 

Ball 6: 2 RUNS – edged through the slips

The game was sealed. This was experience coming to the fore, making sure it didn’t go down to the last over, also making sure MI Emirates solidified their top two spot on the points table.