Twitter Reactions: Gulf Giants win narrowly to MI Emirates in last ball thriller

The Gulf Giants registered a thrilling win in the final ball by five wickets against the MI Emirates in match 24 of the ongoing ILT20, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. 

James Vince, skipper of Gulf Giants won the toss and elected to field first. After scalping two wickets early on in the contest, Emirates were swiftly on the backfoot and the onus was on the middle-order batters to help revive the innings.

West Indies explosive hitter Nicholas Pooran, who came down the middle order quickly hit the ground running and scored 42 runs in 29 balls which included three sixes and three boundaries at a strike rate of 144.82. However, that was the only highlight of the first innings as after his dismissal, the rest of the side collapsed thereby posting a low score of 139 runs in their stipulated 20 overs.

A combined bowling performance from the Gulf franchise helped wrap up the first innings for an underwhelming total. English pacer Chris Jordan racked up a three-wicket haul whereas Dominic Drakes, David Wiese, and young Rehan Ahmed took two wickets each in the bowling line-up.

Gulf Giants chase down 139 runs in the final ball of the contest

Gulf clearly seemed favourites after a dominating first half by restricting the rival side from scoring big. Openers Tom Banton and skipper James Vince carved out a 61-run partnership which handed the team a terrific head start in the contest. 

However, Emirates got a few wickets starting with James, who was sent packing for 26 runs followed by Banton, who was dismissed for 45 runs from 39 balls. The Kieron Pollard-led side slowly started to pick up as they got wickets at regular intervals and pushed till the very end.

With just 3 runs needed off the last delivery, Shimron Hetmeyer held his nerve as he slammed a massive six to a thrilling last-ball win. With this, the side emerged victorious by five wickets against MI Emirates and are placed second on the points table with 12 points.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the low-scoring game-

Take a bow, @SHetmyer! Ice in his veins! With 3 needed off the final ball, he whacks a huge six to take us into the playoffs! #MIEvGG #ALeagueApart #DPWorldILT20 #BringItOn pic.twitter.com/5bcZTwLt6I

— Gulf Giants 🦅 (@GulfGiants) February 1, 2023

SHIMRON HETMYER finish it with a six as 3 runs were needed off the last ball to give GULF GIANTS 5 wickets win over MI EMIRATES in the match 24 of ILT20#ILT20

— Farooq Alam (@AlamFAR786) February 1, 2023

Last ball 3 to win
Hetmyer hit SIX
Giants win#ILT20

— Ishara (@Ishara23032) February 1, 2023

Hetmyer wins it with a six for Giants and who better than Ian Bishop to describe the action 🔥 #ILT20

— Asad Qasim (@A_sadkermit) February 1, 2023

hetmeyer is clutch as msd at the death #ILT20

— Z (@ossyV2) February 1, 2023

That is some finish in the #ILT20

— Cricket Tamizhan (@CricketTamizhan) February 1, 2023

A really very fishy match going on at ILT20 between MI Emirates and Gulf Giants

— M. Sarosh Ebrahim (@msarosh) February 1, 2023

Watched 2 hours of the game patiently but Weise got run out after playing just 3 balls 😢#ILT20

— Saqib Shah (@Saqibca) February 1, 2023

HETMYER IS THE HERO FOR @GulfGiants 🤩#DPWorldILT20 #ALeagueApart #MIEvGG

— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) February 1, 2023

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