DC VS ADKR MATCH 7

That brings the curtain down for the seventh match of ILT20 2025-26! But catch your breath quickly, because the action rolls right on. Join us this Monday, December 8th, as the Desert Vipers take on the Gulf Giants. The game will begin at 2.30 pm GMT. Do join us early for the pre-match build-up as well. Until then, cheers!

Rovman Powell is the Player of the Match for his impeccable strokeplay. He shares the credits with his teammates for handling the spinners well, emphasizing the importance of his own performance against them. He notes the opposition's spinners, Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine, are top-notch, so their strategy was to rotate the strike and not let them bowl to one batter for too long. He continues that he was advised to aim for 180-plus after 10 overs, considering it a good wicket to bat on. He acknowledges the team's dynamics, mentioning that last year's reliance on multiple match-winners has shifted to the senior players, like him and skipper Dasun Shanaka, to lead the way. He is proud of the team's talent, including newcomers like Jordan Cox, and feels a special connection to the team, having friendships with opposition players like Russell, Narine, and Jason, making wins against them even sweeter.

The victorious skipper of Dubai Capitals, Dasun Shanaka, mentions that their initial target was to score between 160-180, but they lost three early wickets. He praises Rovman Powell and Jordan Cox for steadying the ship, noting their discussion about one batter taking the innings deep paid off with Powell's performance. Dasun highlights areas for improvement and commends their bowling, particularly in the powerplay, where they picked up crucial wickets.

Jason Holder, skipper of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, says that there are many room for improvement. He believes they didn't play a complete game, citing issues with partnerships, fielding, and executing plans with the ball. Adds that he is disappointed with their performance, especially with Russell, a key death bowler, not having a great game. He stresses the need for self-reflection, reminding the team they're better than their current performance. Jason's focused on tidying up a few areas and staying true to their strengths.

Time for the Presentation Ceremony...

Earlier in the game, returning Abu Dhabi skipper, Jason Holder, opted to bowl first as is the general norm, especially in the evening matches. After losing 3 wickets for 43 runs, Rovman Powell and Jordan Cox launched a counter-attack for the ages. Cox made a half-century, but Powell scored an unbeaten 96 off just 52 balls to take his side over the 180-run mark. Holder was the pick of the bowlers for the Knight Riders with two wickets to his name.

As for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, their highly touted batting line-up flopped big time. Phil Salt made a few runs up top, but it was a struggle right throughout the chase and they ended up enduring a heavy defeat.

After Rovman Powell powered the Capitals to a sizeable total of 185, their frontline pacers made early inroads. David Willey and Mustafizur Rahman both picked up a couple of wickets in the Powerplay and then the rest of the pack followed it up as well. Waqar Salamkheil then ran riot as he burst through the middle and lower order with a four-wicket haul as the Capitals cruised to victory.

What a win for Dubai Capitals and the reigning champions are finally off the mark in ILT20 2025-26. It is a second straight defeat for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and given the prowess and depth in the batting line-up, they will certainly be disappointed.

OUT! TAKEN! Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are all out. Waqar Salamkheil jogs from over the wicket and dishes a googly, angling it away from the off pole. Olly Stone stays on the leg side, crouches low and looks to smoke it downtown, but the ball connects the outer part of his bat and loops toward Jordan Cox in the long off region. With that, Dubai Capitals beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 83 runs and get their first win of their campaign.

OUT! TAKEN! Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are all out. Waqar Salamkheil jogs from over the wicket and dishes a googly, angling it away from the off pole. Olly Stone stays on the leg side, crouches low and looks to smoke it downtown, but the ball connects the outer part of his bat and loops toward Jordan Cox in the long off region. With that, Dubai Capitals beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 83 runs and get their first win of their campaign.

FOUR! Short, down the leg side, Olly Stone tickles it toward the rigth of the deep fine leg for four runs.

A touch shorter, just outside off, angling away. Olly Stone looks to sweep it and Shayan Jahangir gloves the ball to thump the stumps to send it upstairs. The review shows that while Stone is performing the shot, his backfoot comes out of the popping crease, but he manages to drag it backward just in time.

FOUR! STREAKY! Slow lower full toss, around the sixth stump, Ajay Kumar looks to drive it through cover, but the ball gets a thin outside edge and zips past the right of the keeper toward deep third for a single.

Slower and wide outside off, Ajay Kumar first looks to push it away, but withdraws his bat as he sees the ball going away from his body.

Back of a length, angling across the line, Ajay Kumar swings to heave it to deep mid-wicket for no run.

BYE! Slower and back of a length, angling just across the stumps, Olly Stone looks to push it to cover but misses. Shayan Jahangir fails to glove it for the first time and the batter gets a bye.