That wraps up all our action for today. Thank you for joining us; we hope you enjoyed the coverage. Please join us again for the next match. Until then, this is Rashad Mahbub, logging out for the night alongside Ranjith P. Goodbye!
Player of the Match, Piyush Chawla: "[37 years old next week] The love for the game that keeps me going. When I started, I never imagined cricket would become my profession; I played simply because I loved it, and that passion remains. The googly comes naturally to me, so I don't actually have to work on it much. Currently, I am focusing more on my leg-breaks. I'm experimenting with different angles and a more side-on bowling arm to generate extra turn and create doubt in the batter's mind. [The Impact Sub Role] I'm currently returning from injury, so the 'Super Sub' role works well for me. Unlike Dre Russ, I'm not someone who hits sixes or can run excessively right now. I'm really enjoying this role and the chance to contribute."
Jason Holder: "That win felt great. Getting over the line is a credit to the boys; I thought we played a really good game. Even though they got off to a strong start, we kept our composure and picked up crucial wickets in the middle. [Chawla] Bowled an outstanding spell. Both spinners operated really nicely and provided the breakthroughs we needed. At one stage, their run rate was moving quite easily, so it was important to step in and break those partnerships. Everyone contributed well to that effort. There are always nerves in any run chase, but credit to the boys for holding their nerve once again. We have secured back-to-back wins now, which is exactly what we needed."
James Vince: "We looked on track for 190-200 at one point, so we were likely 20-30 runs short. Both teams played a mix of good and indifferent cricket, but without those extra runs, the pressure on them up front was minimal. When a team gets off to a start like that, the required run rate stays manageable. [Bowling performance] I'm proud of the fight, especially after their strong start. It's easy to lose momentum when the opposition scores freely early on, but Tabraiz Shamsi did a fantastic job pegging them back with wickets. That allowed us to start believing again. Their long, solid batting lineup kept coming, with quality players even at the end. We fought well at the back end, but a few mistakes cost us, the no-ball and then the last ball going for six were not ideal. It felt like a game we could have won, but we just didn't execute in those small moments."
10:12 pm We've been treated to yet another last-over thriller this season, and for the first time this season, the Knight Riders have secured back to back victories. The chase began with Phil Salt dominating Chris Wood with consecutive boundaries. He continued the onslaught in the third over, welcoming Klaassen with two fours and a six. Awareness of the looming rain pushed the Knight Riders to race to 53/0 by the end of the Powerplay. The 61-run opening stand finally broke when Tabraiz Shamsi dismissed Salt for 35, who chipped a catch to short midwicket. Shamsi turned the game into a contest by then deceiving Liam Livingstone with a googly to stump him out. However, Sherfane Rutherford effectively neutralised the pressure by smashing two sixes and a four off Moeen Ali in the 14th over. Alex Hales played the anchor role to perfection with a steady 46, though he eventually fell attempting to slice a wide yorker from Wood. The drama intensified as Shamsi clean-bowled Alishan Sharafu with another sharp googly, and Klaassen dismissed the set Rutherford for 30 in the 17th over. Despite these breakthroughs, the Knight Riders' batting depth proved decisive. Andre Russell remained calm at the crease, sealing the win with a massive six in the final over. While Shamsi was the standout for the Giants with three wickets and an economical spell, it wasn't enough to prevent the Knight Riders from jumping to fourth place in the standings.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders won by 4 wickets
7 runs needed from the last over. Wood will bowl the last one.
END OF OVER:19 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | ADKR: 159/6 (7 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.36, RRR: 7.00)
- Andre Russell15 (12b)
- Brandon McMullen0 (1b)
- Fred Klaassen4-0-37-2
- Matthew Forde4-0-34-0
David: "So many ILT20 matches coming down to the wire this year. Fun, edge of your seat cricket."
Brandon McMullen is the new batter in at number 8
JO Holder c Vince b Klaassen 9 (9m 7b 1x4 0x6) SR: 128.57
14 runs needed off 12 balls. Klaassen to bowl the 19th over
END OF OVER:18 | 14 Runs | ADKR: 152/5 (14 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.44, RRR: 7.00)
- Andre Russell15 (10b)
- Jason Holder3 (4b)
- Matthew Forde4-0-34-0
- Fred Klaassen3-0-31-1
Arshad : "Two big hitter on the crease and see how they hit the ball in this windy condition no boundary hit by them still"
Free Hit
liza: "there is fog." The live feed commentators said it's sand flying out there with the heavy wind.
Forde comes in to bowl
END OF OVER:17 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | ADKR: 138/5 (28 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.11, RRR: 9.33)
- Jason Holder1 (2b)
- Andre Russell7 (5b)
- Fred Klaassen3-0-31-1
- Tabraiz Shamsi4-0-23-3
21 balls since the last boundary
Jason Holder is the new batter at number 7
SE Rutherford b Klaassen 30 (35m 22b 1x4 2x6) SR: 136.36
