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This is how our first four games have gone: L, W, L, W. With this being our last home game for a while as we hit the road again, wouldn’t we just love some momentum, some Abu Dhabi luck, aka, a W! It’s been some journey these four games: a loss where we fought hard after being in trouble, an epic last over heist, an equally near-epic pull off but ending up in heartbreak, and finally, a clinical one-sided win.&nbsp;The Sharjah Warriorz were the side on the wrong side of us pulling off that epic defence where Allah Ghazanfar brought MI Emirates back from the dead with a two-wicket maiden over before Romario Shepherd nailed yorker after yorker in the final over. They’ve in fact lost all three games they’ve played thus far, and would be hungry to get points on the board. We’re equally hungry to defend our fortress.&nbsp;&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz&nbsp;When: December 14, 2025 | 2:00pm local time, 3:30pm ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu DhabiWhat to expect: Given that it is an afternoon game that makes the dew inconsequential, the toss won’t be as important. But the pitch at the Zayed Cricket Stadium has been pretty favourable towards bowlers making it a nice fair contest, and this game promises to be no different.&nbsp;

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Match 5 | MIEvSW preview: Let’s end the first half on a high! 

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With a whopping win over AD Knight Riders, MI Emirates have firmly put that last-ball defeat over the Desert Vipers behind them to get back on the winning track. Kamindu Mendis, one of the stars with the ball, spoke to the media at the end of play and praised the bowling group to keep ADKR down to a below-par total.&nbsp;“Our bowlers did well to keep them to under 130,” Mendis said. “(Fazalhaq) Farooqi did really well, kudos to him, with some good fielding today as well. Hopefully we do well in the upcoming games.“He also felt it was a good toss for MI Emirates to win here with the dew coming down. “The pitch is getting a bit slower, which helped us restrict them. Dew is a big factor when it comes to night games. Today there was a bit more dew on the field.”And finally, on a lighter note Jonny Bairstow was left stranded on 49 as Kamindu smashed a six off his legs to finish the game. “I already apologized to him. I didn’t want to finish it off, but it just happened,” he concludes with an almost embarrassed smile.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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“Our bowlers did really well to keep them under 130”: Kamindu Mendis 

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This was quick. A spirited effort with the ball to bundle the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for a below par 122 set the tone for the MI Emirates batters to go on a rampage and chase the target down with seven wickets and 43 balls to spare, giving the net run-rate a massive kick-up.&nbsp;The Farooqi cleanup actRomario Shepherd drew first blood with the ball, getting the dangerous Phil Salt for a quickfire 17(9). Fazalhaq Farooqi and Kamindu Mendis then triggered a middle-order collapse post powerplay, before Farooqi came back at the death and blew away the tail to finish with superb match figures of 4/14.&nbsp;6, 6, 6 – The Waseem showIn the chase, MIE got six runs in the first over, two in the second. A watchful start you’d think. Khary Pierre came onto bowl. Muhammad Waseem was on strike.&nbsp;2.1: SIX2.2: SIX2.3: SIXThe tone was set. No messing around. No wasting time. Waseem bhai was in a hurry.&nbsp;Bairstow takes charge, seamlesslyAfter Waseem fell, Jonny Bairstow made sure the run-rate didn’t dip, smashing seven fours on the way to his 38-ball 49. He found good support in Tom Banton and then Kamindu Mendis, who chipped in with useful contributions to make sure MI Emirates got the job done quickly.&nbsp;This was just the result we needed after a tough last-ball loss a couple of nights ago. We have another game at home before we go on the road again. Let’s bring it home, Habibi!&nbsp;

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MIEvADKR report: Easy peasy! A clinical chase with 43 balls to spare 

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The Blue and Gold versus the Purple and Gold. Across three leagues over three different continents, this rivalry always has fans glued in, having produced some of iconic clashes over the last many years. Well, the MI Emirates fans have been through a rollercoaster of emotions over the last two games: the high of the last over defence against the Sharjah Warriorz, followed by the last-ball heartbreak against the Desert Vipers.&nbsp;ADKR are in similar waters, with one win in three games. The Zayed Cricket Stadium is a place both teams know really well. The pitch in the previous game had something in it for everybody and ensured a wonderful contest between bat and ball. The stakes have been raised in a game both teams would be desperate to get two points out of.&nbsp;&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs AD Knight Riders&nbsp;When: December 11, 2025 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: A clash of West Indian firepower, with Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Romario Shepherd going up against Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Jason Holder. Grab your popcorn tubs!&nbsp;

“Our bowlers did really well to keep them under 130”: Kamindu Mendis

By MI Emirates Media

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