DP World ILT20 2025, Match 26 Review: Pooran’s panache helps MI Emirates register handsome win against Gulf Giants

The MI Emirates’ captain Nicholas Pooran was in the form of his life, as he guided his side over the line against the Gulf Giants, at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday evening, in Season 3 of the DP World ILT20. The MI Emirates won the game by five wickets and also registered their first victory of the season in Dubai. Skipper Pooran, who walked away with the player of the match award, finished unbeaten on 58 off 37 deliveries, also won the player of the match award.

Earlier in the evening, the Gulf Giants, who were put into bat first, were off to a brisk start as openers Gerhard Erasmus and James Vince found the boundaries quite regularly. The duo threatened to go big, before Akeal Hosein had Erasmus’ number for 12 in the third over.

Eventually, Tim David and Chris Jordan wrapped up the innings for the Giants, scoring 10 not out each, and taking the total to 173/6 in 20 overs.

In response, the MI Emirates kicked off at fifth gear. Openers Andre Fletcher and Muhammad Waseem scored freely in the early overs, hitting a flurry of boundaries. The opening stand produced 44 runs before Waseem departed for 26 off 10. Tom Banton added 11 to the cause before Aayan Khan made him his second scalp.

In the final five overs, the MI Emirates needed 71 runs and had six wickets in hand. Pooran and Jacobs attacked the bowling, hitting some exquisite shots during a 53-run stand off 33 balls. Jacobs got 18 after which Chris Jordan accounted for him. Captain Pooran though was leading the charge at the other end, with Romario Shepherd happy to play second fiddle.

In the 18th over, Pooran brought up his half century, and the pressure was on the Giants, as the MI Emirates were well and truly in the box seat. Shepherd added a few lusty blows in the penultimate over, as the MI Emirates went into the final over needing six runs. Pooran smashed the first ball over cow corner for a maximum, to seal a fantastic five-wicket win.

"I guess it's all about faith, belief in yourself as well. I just felt like we should put a partnership together. Stay calm, understand what the guys are trying to do and just execute our skills in the dead-end. I felt like we had a chance. Romario (Shepherd) definitely came out and did their part in the end there, and it really helped me as well," Pooran said after the match.

"We're really happy for Tom and Farooqi. Farooqi has been really consistent for us for the three years, and we're really happy that these guys are getting a chance to dominate the tournament. But what matters at the end of the day is doing exactly what the team wants. We're getting into the back end of the tournament, the end goal is obviously to win the championship, and winning a belt, getting more runs, getting more wickets, it doesn't really matter if we don't win the chip. But at the moment we're extremely happy for these guys. We want to continue to support them in good moments and even in bad moments, and again, most importantly, just do it for the team," he added.

Brief Scores

MI Emirates beat Gulf Giants by five wickets

Gulf Giants - 173/6 in 20 overs (James Vince - 86, Shimron Hetmyer - 15, Muhammad Rohid Khan - 2 for 36, Waqar Salamkheil 1 for 23)

MI Emirates - 174/5 in 19.1 overs (Nicholas Pooran - 58 not out, Andre Fletcher - 31, Romario Shepherd - 23 not out, Aayan Khan - 2 for 9, Blessing Muzarabani - 1 for 17.) 

Player of the match - Nicholas Pooran