ILT20 2023, MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriors, Match 2 - Talking Points and Who Said What?

MI Emirates registered a comprehensive 49-run victory over Sharjah Warriors in the second match of the International League T20 2023 (ILT20) on Saturday (January 14). Playing their first game of UAE's new T20 franchise league, MI Emirates scored a big total of 204/5 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, as  experienced UAE batter Muhammad Waseem smashed 71 off 39 while Nicholas Pooran contributed with 49 off 30.

The Eglish pacer Chris Woakes took two wickets while conceding just 23 runs but the likes of Junaid Siddique and Mohammad Nabi proved costly for the Warriors. They lost Evin Levis and Dawid Malan on back-to-back deliveries on the second over and never recovered from that. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz put in an impressive knock by scoring 43 off 41 but the Warriors struggled for impactful innings.

Woakes, playing at No. 8, played a remarkable hand of 62 off just 29 but the Warriors were restricted to just 155/9 in 20 overs. The veteran South African spinner Imran Tahir took three wickets for 26 while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Dwayne Bravo grabbed two each to guide MI Emirates to a win in their first game.

Talking Points from EMI vs SJH, ILT20 Match 2:

Nicholas Pooran and Muhammad Waseem guide MI Emirate to big total:

Waseem made the biggest impact for MI Emirates, scoring 71 off 39. Pooran also contributed with 49-run knock, however, he missed on a well-deserved fifty. West Indies veterans Kieron Pollard, Andre Fletcher, and Dwayne Bravo also contribute with 20-plus knocks to put in a team effort to score a big total for MI Emirates.

Chris Woakes' all-round effort in vain:

The star English bowling all-rounder was arguably the best bowler for the Warriors with two wickets while conceding just 23 runs from his four-over spell. He gave the Warriors a big start with early wickets of Will Smeed and Andre Fletcher but his team failed to capitalize on that. While chasing a total, he smashed 62 off just 29 with the help of nine fours and two sixe,s but it was too late for the Warriors.

Losing Captain, Moeen Ali said:

We weren't sure of how the pitch will play in the first game. Woakes was fantastic. We managed to show some fight at the end with the bat. We lost two wickets in two balls. They showed us how to play on that wicket. Gurbaz showed us how to bat on that wicket.

Winning Captain, Kieron Pollard said:

It was a good wicket. I thought the guys got a good start and we kept the momentum going throughout the innings. Waseem was very good at the top. These guys swing the new ball. We were lucky enough to have both of them and get two wickets early. We got to be consistent. The tournament has just started.

Player of the Match, Muhammad Waseem said:

Very happy with my performance. I was trying to play my natural game. I am always working hard for the sides I play.