MIE VS DV MATCH 9

That is all from this game. The action continues as Gulf Giants will take on Sharjah Warriorz on the 10th of this month. Do join us at 2.30 pm GMT and earlier for the build up. Till then, cheers!

David Payne, the Player of the Match says they are making a regular thing to win it in pressure situations. Admits Rashid Khan made it a good game in the end. Shares that the communication is clear among the bowling pack.

Lockie Ferguson, the skipper of Desert Vipers says the team has been involved in a couple of close contests during the tournament, indicating that the players are performing better than they did in the last season. Mentions that taking the pace off the ball had worked well for Payne. Regarding Aravind's performance in the final overs, Ferguson states that while the team intends to play every ball well, Aravind made an obvious mistake; however, he praised the way the player redeemed himself and came back strong.

MI Emirates skipper, Kieron Pollard expressed disappointment, stating that the loss would hurt as his team was once again close to victory. He pointed out that they should have batted better in the last five overs, noting that they failed to win despite needing only a run-a-ball in the final three overs. Admits it was a good surface, and stressed the team's need to perform better in their upcoming games.

...Presentation...

It boiled down to the final over where the hopes lay on Rashid Khan against Khuzaima Tanveer, who had a brilliant game so far. Rashid Khan hit a six in the innings and followed it with a lucky boundary, leaked by the keeper Vriitya Aravind, who redeemed himself with a brilliant run out in the last ball to secure the win. Earlier, despite posting a competitive total, the Desert Vipers left runs on the field, largely due to a vital mid-innings disruption when the blossoming partnership between Andries Gous and Max Holden (both retired out) was cut short, stemming the run flow. While Sam Curran also struggled to score quickly, Shimron Hetmyer and Dan Lawrence provided valuable late contributions to push the Vipers close to the 160-run mark. Credit goes to the MI Emirates bowlers for pulling the innings back in the second half, with AM Ghazanfar claiming a couple of wickets as the most successful bowler, supported by Fazalhaq Farooqi with one.

MI Emirates were in cruise control for most of the game. Nicholas Pooran and Tom Banton were cruising along until they both fell and things got interesting. Kieron Pollard held one end while Tajinder Singh played a quick cameo. With players like Romario Shepherd, Chris Woakes and Rashid Khan still to come, MI Emirates were the front-runners to win but David Payne picked three wickets in the penultimate over of Romario Shepherd, Kieron Pollard and Chris Woakes to turn the tide towards Desert Vipers' way.

The ILT20 has produced two back-to-back classic games. Courtesy, on both occasions, the Desert Vipers! They are celerating as they make it four out of four this season, while Rashid Khan shakes his head as he fails to hit the winning runs. Vriitya Aravind redeemed himself completely on the final delivery by performing a heroic act, from spilling four runs to executing a brilliant run-out. Remember, he was not part of the playing XI nor the Impact Player.

OUT! RUN OUT! Vriitya Aravind, the keeper, went from zero to hero in an instant! Khuzaima Tanveer rolls his finger as he bowls a fuller delivery, outside off, Rashid Khan swings and misses and runs across. AM Ghazanfar was a bit late to charge across. Vriitya Aravind picks up and underarms at his end and hits the stumps.

OUT! RUN OUT! Vriitya Aravind, the keeper, went from zero to hero in an instant! Khuzaima Tanveer rolls his finger as he bowls a fuller delivery, outside off, Rashid Khan swings and misses and runs across. AM Ghazanfar was a bit late to charge across. Vriitya Aravind picks up and underarms at his end and hits the stumps.

FOUR! Oh, should have been stopped! A full toss, outside off, Rashid Khan swings and manages an edge back to the keeper. The ball falls in front of him and rolls through his legs and into the fence. 2 runs needed in one ball. They are checking if it was a waist height full toss but the replay shows it was a legal delivery.

SIX! 6 runs needed in 2 balls. Connects it so cleanly! Back of a length and outside off. Rashid Khan hangs back and low as he pulls it over square leg for a six.

WELL SHORT! Bangs it short and around off, Rashid Khan pulls and top edges it to mid-wicket, no one inside the ring and it falls well short of Shimron Hetmyer running in from the deep.

Wide! This is full and wide outside off, Rashid Khan leaves for a wide.

A DOT! A full toss, around off, Rashid Khan is too early as he swings across, it lobs to cover where the fielder collects on a bounce.

Wide! Stays away from the arc and bowls well outside off, Khan leaves it.

Khuzaima Tanveer serves it full and outside off, Rashid Khan swings hard and misses.

All eyes are on Rashid Khan now. Can he help MI Emirates chase the target?