15th Feb, 2024

MIEvGG report: Our Valentine’s Day gift: A PLACE IN THE ILT20 2024 FINAL!!

By MI Emirates Media

Two back-to-back losses, a game against the Gulf Giants, a team that knocked us out of the 2023 playoffs at a venue where we haven’t won a single game this season, well, we have our revenge, we have our momentum, and we have our spot in the grand finale booked! Start the party, bring out the DJ hidden inside you, and when you have the time to catch a breath, have a read on how the day went .. 

Our trio is back, tell the world! 

Nicky Pooran, Tim David and Akeal Hosein, flew in from Australia this morning, and immediately resumed from where they’d left. At 46/3 in the seventh over, MI Emirates were in a spot of bother, but skipper Pooran counter-attacked his way to a 28-ball 30 in a solid partnership with DJ Bravo. And then Tim came in, built on the platform with a 21-ball 29 to take the team past the 160-run mark. And Akeal, of course, did what he’d been doing all season – pick up powerplay wickets for fun. James Vince fell to an inswinging delivery off the first ball of the innings, and Chris Lynn fell to a delivery that spun sharply to grab the leading-edge of his bat. 

Polly power on full display

He came, he stood, he swung, he delivered. For the third game in a row, Kieron Pollard put on a show with a 14-ball 27, giving the innings a much-needed impetus at the death, and along with Tim David, making sure the slow start was more than made up for. 

Spin it to win it

Seven wickets were shared by our three spinners, with Akeal taking the first two, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth taking three in the middle, and then Waqar Salamkheil coming in and closing out the innings. Together, they made sure the Gulf Giants never got any rhythm through their innings. The result: A comfortable 45-run victory, and A PLACE IN THE ILT20 2024 FINAL. 

Saturday. February 17. Dubai. The jinx is reversed. The momentum is seized. The stage is set. ILT20 trophy, MI Emirates are coming for you! 


Associate Partner


Official Partners