Abu Dhabi [UAE], February 5 (ANI): MI Emirates continued to reign supreme in the International League T20 (ILT20) season two, registering a resounding 30-run victory against the Desert Vipers at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to become the first team to secure the berth in the play-offs on Sunday.
Completing their sixth victory in eight matches, the MI Emirates asserted themselves with a first-innings score of 188/5 buoyed by an elegant knock of 65 runs from Kusal Perera and a late innings assault from Nicholas Pooran (39). Ambati Rayudu also produced impeccable value for this team with a hard-fought stint that earned 44 runs.
The Desert Vipers run-chase never found momentum, encumbered by the clinical bowling of the MI Emirates, they lost wickets at frequent intervals, including five in the powerplay.
Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the Emirates’ bowling attack with impressive figures of 4/31. His four overs scripted the dismissals of Colin Munro, Adam Hose, Azam Khan and Luke Wood to limit the Desert Vipers to 158/8 in 20 overs.
Invited to bat first, MI Emirates began with a lucrative powerplay despite the loss of two wickets. Kusal Perera made his intent crystal clear, scoring 31 off just 18 deliveries in the first six overs. While Muhammad Waseem and Andre Fletcher both departed with minimal impact, scalped by Mohd Amir and Nathan Sowter respectively, to leave the MI Emirates at 61/2 by the end of the powerplay.
As Ambati Rayudu joined Kusal Perera, the duo constructed a formidable stand of 75 runs. Serving as the aggressor in the partnership Perera brought up his half century in just 31 deliveries. In the 16th over, Perera was caught at deep mid-wicket off Wanindu Hasaranga’s delivery for 65 in 46 balls, with eight fours and a six.