Match 28, Dubai, February 10, 2024, 04:00 PM

166/3(20.0ov)

Gulf Giants beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 3 runs

That is all from this game. The second game of the day is on course to start. Switch the tabs and join us there. From here, it is goodbye!
Jamie Overton wins the PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD for his outstanding performance with the ball.
With the win, Gulf Giants are qualified for the playoffs. They deserved it for the way they bowled. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will be kicking themselves. They had the game in hand but the pressure got bigger on them as they lost wickets in the death. They let themselves down in the fielding department though. James Vince and Shimron Hetmyer were dropped and they went onto make the most of it. On the flip side, Gulf Giants didn't give away anything. Now, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are on third but not yet qualified and just have to hope that other results go their way.
What a bowling performance from Blessing Muzarabani. He held his nerves in the last over. Despite bowling a no ball, he defends a total that should have been chased down. We thought Gulf Giants are 10-15 runs short but their bowlers were very clinical. In the start, they gave away too many runs but Chris Jordan started a serious comeback. His spell was pivotal for their comeback. His penultimate over took two wickets and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders started feeling the pressure. However, it was Blessing Muzarabani's final over that helped Gulf Giants clinch two points.
In over# 20
1lb
1W
1
1lb
1nb
1
1
Blessing Muzarabani 30/0(4)
19.6
1lb
Leg bye! Blessing Muzarabani does it! Very full and on leg, Evans looks to flick it but misses and it goes off the pads around for a leg bye. Gulf Giants win by 3 runs.
19.5
W
OUT! RUN OUT! Evans on strike! 5 runs needed! On middle, this is drilled to long on for a single. Narine sacrifices his wicket as he runs back but he was never going to make his ground. Just one.
19.4
1
Very full and around off, Narine pushes it to deep point for a single. It has to be now. Laurie Evans has to do it! Fine bowling though from Blessing Muzarabani but has to keep his nerves.
19.3
1lb
Leg bye! Good bowling! A yorker, tailing on leg. Evans misses his clip and it rolls to cover for a single. 7 runs needed now.
19.3
1nb
Wide! Full and well down the leg side, Evans misses his clip and a wide is given. Hold on, it is not a wide but a NO BALL as Blessing Muzarabani has overstepped. Big moment in the game.
19.2
1
TAP AND RUN! Length and outside off, Narine knocks it to cover for a single. 9 runs needed now.
19.1
1
Evans has missed out. A juicy full toss on middle and this is flicked to deep square leg for a single.
Blessing Muzarabani to bowl the final over.
In over# 19
0
0W
1W
1
1
1
Chris Jordan 22/2(4)
18.6
.
Fuller and around middle, Narine looks to flick but splices it to the right of backward point who collects on a bounce. Laurie Evans will take the strike for the final over.
Sunil Narine walks in. The skipper has to finish it off now.
18.5
W
OUT! BOWLED! Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are losing apart in the death. This is full and around off. Sagar Kalyan was standing on the leg side, tries to push it away but misses by a long margin. Gulf Giants on a hat trick.
18.4
W
OUT! RUN OUT! Willey had to put in a dive there. Full and on middle, Willey plays it to point and tries to sneak in a couple. Takes one and runs back for the second but Blessing Muzarabani runs across and throws it to the keeper who whips it off. A dive and Willey would have been in.
18.3
1
Fuller and outside off, Evans strokes it to deep point for one more.