Pathum Nissanka set up a six-wicket win for Gulf Giants as they opened their ILT20 campaign at Dubai International Stadium. His 81 from 42 balls, backed by a sharp all-round shift from Azmatullah Omarzai, pulled the side out of a six-match losing run at the venue.
MI Emirates had earlier reached 163 for six, thanks largely to a stand worth 78 between Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard. Pooran made 46. Pollard hit 50 before falling in the final over. Romario Shepherd chipped in with 18 not out from six balls.
The Giants attack kept control for most of the innings. Omarzai and Nuwan Thushara took two wickets each, with both quicks striking early. Thushara removed Mohammed Waseem and Jonny Bairstow, each caught and bowled, while Omarzai bowled Tom Banton. MI Emirates were 36 for three inside the powerplay and needed a rebuild.
Pooran and Tajinder Singh added 27 before Moeen Ali beat Tajinder in the 10th over. Pollard lifted the rate with three straight sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi, and Pooran joined in with a 14-run over off Haider Razzaq. But when Pooran tried a third six of his own, he picked out the deep fielder.
The Giants’ chase stuttered early. Chris Woakes removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gerhard Erasmus inside two overs. Nissanka and Moeen steadied the reply, adding 67 before Moeen was run out for 26.
Nissanka moved through the gears after a steady start, reaching his half-century from 30 balls. He hit three fours and two sixes in that period, then pressed on again after the halfway stage.
Omarzai then swung the match firmly the Giants’ way. He attacked Rashid Khan in a 23-run over that included three sixes and a four. Nissanka followed with three boundaries and a six off Woakes before falling in the 15th over. By then the target was in reach.
Omarzai finished unbeaten on 39 from 16 balls, sealing victory with 14.4 overs gone.
Moeen, standing in as captain, said the fast start with the ball laid the base.
“The toss was huge. We bowled very well in the first 10 overs. Nissanka and Omarzai were incredible.”
Pollard said MI Emirates were always recovering after their early losses.
“Losing three wickets in the powerplay meant we were short. The ball moved around in the first 10 overs and we couldn’t finish as well as we wanted.”
Brief Scores
Gulf Giants beat MI Emirates by six wickets
MI Emirates 163/6 (20 overs): Pollard 50, Pooran 46; Thushara 2/41, Omarzai 2/32
Gulf Giants 164/4 (14.4 overs): Nissanka 81, Omarzai 39*, Moeen 26; Woakes 2/49, Ghazanfar 1/18
