MI Emirates, led by Nicholas Pooran, won their inaugural ILT20 title with a commanding 45-run triumph over Dubai Capitals in the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 17.
Pooran played a captain's knock by smashing 53* off just 37 balls as MI Emirates defended 208 runs in the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium to lift the trophy.
Choosing to field after winning the toss, Dubai Capitals faced an electrifying start from MI Emirates' openers Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera, who scored aggressively in the powerplay, reaching 72 runs after six overs.
Waseem smashed 43 off just 24 balls before getting dismissed by Zahir Khan in the seventh over. Perera also added crucial 38 runs to MI Emirates on track for a huge total. Andre Fletcher and Nicholas Pooran kept the hammering on with a quick 56-run stand for the third wicket.
Pooran top-scored with 57* off just 27 balls with the help of two fours and six sixes while Fletcher smashed 53 off 37 balls.
In the run chase, Dubai Capitals faced early setbacks, losing Leu du Plooy to Akeal Hosein's lbw for a duck. Tom Abell struggled, dropping twice, but eventually succumbed to Muhammat Khan's slower delivery.
English batter Tom Banton displayed aggressive cricket by smashing 35 off 20 balls but the Capitals kept losing wickets from one end. and were eventually short by 45 runs off the target.
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