Win Projections to be updated soon
Match 5, Dubai, December 06, 2025, 08:00 PM
Dubai Capitals
160/6(20.0ov)
Gulf Giants
161/6(18.5ov)
Gulf Giants beat Dubai Capitals by 4 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Pathum Nissanka
Commentry
Right then, that is it from Match 5 of the 2025-26 ILT20 season but there's plenty of action still to come before the first week gets over. On Sunday, December 7, there's a doubleheader lined up. In the first match of the day, Sharjah Warriorz will take on MI Emirates in Sharjah, beginning at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). That will be followed by a contest between Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Dubai at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT). Do join us early for the build-up of both games. Till then, take care and goodbye!
Pathum Nissanka is the Player of the Match for his exceptional knock. He says that he is happy to play in this ground because he has scored a lot of runs and also a century against Indian nation team, so it's a special ground for him. Ends up saying that he always feels great to compete against the opposition skipper, Dasun Shanaka.
Moeen Ali, the captain of Gulf Giants, says that the fact that they got the points whilst not being at their best is something that pleased him and reckons they can play better. Adds that Pathum Nissanka is one of the best batters in the world across all formats. On James Vince, Moeen says that it was a bit of a gamble playing him not at full strength but you need someone like him and he played the situation really well.
Dubai Capitals skipper, Dasun Shanaka, is up for a chat first. Dasun says that Pathum Nissanka is in the form of his life and if you bowl at his hips, it's going out of the park. Continues praising him, countryman, and says he is a great prodigy for the nation, and that everyone has expectations of him. Adds that in the batting innings, they needed to capitalize in the middle overs and he also feels that Rovman Powell could have been sent up to the order. Ends up saying that they will try to work harder in the upcoming matches.
The Presentation ceremony...
Early in the game, Moeen Ali won the toss and put the Capitals into bat. It started off as a pretty equal battle, with both teams trading jabs until around the halfway mark in the first innings. That is when the Giants' spinners really came alive and quickly got rid of both set batters in the form of Sediqullah Atal and David Willey. The Capitals never really managed to recovered as Moeen Ali and his men kept the pressure on. Azmatullah Omarzai picked up 3 wickets but the in the final over, Dasun Shanaka took him apart and completely spoiled his figures, taking the Capitals to over the 160-run mark.
Dubai Capitals huffed and puffed to a par total of 160 runs early on and needed a big Powerplay with the ball. However, they failed to capitalize on the early wicket of Gurbaz and once James Neesham gave away those 22 runs in the 5th over, they lagged behind in the game. Nissanka took the bowlers on and found the fence with regularity but the Capitals did decently in the latter half, picking up wickets at regular intervals. However, it was all a bit too late.
Needing 161 for the win, Gulf Giants started quickly but lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early in the chase. However, Pathum Nissanka carried his superb form from the previous game and notched up another quickfire half-century, eventually getting out on 67 off just 31 balls. An injured James Vince walked in as the Impact Sub and held up one end, playing a few good shots here and there. The Ginats did lose wickets frequently in the second half of the chase but hit enough boundaries to always stay ahead in the game and eventually got the job done as Vince also ended up with an unbeaten 50 to his name.
Gulf Giants cruise to back-to-back wins and it will be a second successive loss to start the new season for reigning champions Dubai Capitals. The Giants have not just won 2 out of 2 but they have taken their net run rate to a high early in the season, which could be crucial when the time comes.
In over# 19
1wd
1
1
0
0W
1
Muhammad Jawadullah 4/1(0.5)
18.6
1wd
WIDE! That will do for Gulf Giants! Short of a length around off, Mark Adair arches backward to upper cut it but fails to connect. The ball loops well over the batter and the umpire has given a wide. Gulf Giants beat Dubai Capitals by four wickets.
18.5
1
FIFTY FOR VINCE! Fuller, on leg, James Vince nudges it to deep square leg for the single and gets the half-century.
18.4
1
Much fuller, outside off, Mark Adair squeezes it to wide of the cover-point fielder, who dives to make a half stop. Single taken.
18.3
.
Low full toss, on leg, Mark Adair tucks it to square leg.
Mark Adair is in next.
OUT! CAUGHT! Gerhard Erasmus wanted to finish off in style, but failed to achieve it. Slower back of a length, wide outside off, Gerhard Erasmus cuts it uppishly, to clear the fence, but the lack of pace helped the ball to fly flat to Mustafizur Rahman in the deep backward point, who scoops it well into his palm.
18.2
W
OUT! CAUGHT! Gerhard Erasmus wanted to finish off in style, but failed to achieve it. Slower back of a length, wide outside off, Gerhard Erasmus cuts it uppishly, to clear the fence, but the lack of pace helped the ball to fly flat to Mustafizur Rahman in the deep backward point, who scoops it well into his palm.
18.1
1
Back of outside off, James Vince slaps it late to deep backward point for a single.
In over# 18
1
6
1
1
1
1
David Willey 26/0(3)