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. It’s just the performance we needed after a couple of tough losses. Oh, this was some game. Let’s relive it.. 

Andre Fletcher, comes, conquers! 

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. 

Tom Banton, take a bow! 

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. 

The procession begins

Five 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. 

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!