What a clinical performance by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders! They have bundled out Dubai Capitals for a meagre 108, with no innings of note apart from Neesham's 19 off 13 and Nabi's 27 off 13. It's a sorry-looking scorecard, and Holder, Narine, and Livingstone picked up three wickets each while being miserly and suffocating for the batters. Salt and Pepper earlier stitched together a match-winning stand, and even though there was a massive collapse in the middle, a cameo from Holder with the bat gave them just enough runs on the board to make it a contest. And boy, did they deliver perfectly, increasing their intensity by leaps and bounds on the big night. It's a new year, and it looked like a brand new improved team! Today, they looked like a completely different outfit, stunning Capitals with their aggression and accuracy. They never looked out of the game with the ball, picking wickets at will as Capitals batters went frantically about their business, finding fielders whenever they tried to clear the ropes. There's a lot for Capitals to reflect on and learn when it comes to pacing the innings and taking calculated risks, as they fell short on the strategic front with the bat

Mohammad Nabi, Dubai Capitals captain: Think it's quite tough to say we pulled it back when bowling when they looked set to score 200 and we bowled really well as a bowling unit but not as a batting unit. It's not that much spin but again they bowled really well. Enjoyed tournament as an allrounder and captain, it's hard luck on today's game but otherwise the whole tournament we played really well

Jason Holder, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain: Really really happy with the win, boys played really good cricket. We obviously lost wickets in the middle but still got a competitive score on this wicket. Still gotta back your calls -- some days it works, some days it's not. We got players who can play dual roles… (on personal form), pleased, haven't had a huge deal to do with the bat, finished last year well, started this year well, hopefully this continues. Always good contest between these two teams, always like a derby (match against MI Emirates). May the better team win

Sunil Narine, Player of the Match: I am trying to bowl a little bit more attacking, sometimes you get hit when you attack… Latter half in Dubai it's spinning a bit, so you have more options as spinners. The atmosphere and vibes help; when you win, it helps. In three years we struggled and the fourth year we are here, it's emotional because we have played good cricket in the past. They (Knight Riders) are a proud franchise, they want to keep up high, and we have the momentum. Hope we can win the championship

16.2
W
Holder to Muhammad Jawadullah, OUT, Sensational comeback and Jason Holder, you beauty, galvanized his team superbly and ADKR made a roaring comeback in this game, gets back-to-back wickets, asking him to flay at the fuller wide once and he obliges, chases it for a drive and another edge gobbled by Pepper! That will the end of defending champions campaign and Knight Riders will have another chance to make it to the final!

Muhammad Jawadullah c Pepper b Holder 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

ILT20 News

DC 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st11Shayan JahangirTE Albert
2nd20Shayan JahangirJM Cox
3rd4Gulbadin NaibShayan Jahangir
4th8Gulbadin NaibN Bidaisee
5th6Gulbadin NaibR Powell
6th15JDS NeeshamR Powell
7th15Mohammad NabiJDS Neesham
8th5Mohammad NabiDJ Willey
9th24Mohammad NabiHaider Ali
10th0Haider AliMuhammad Jawadullah

International League T20

TeamMWLPTNRR
DV1082160.438
MIE1073140.676
DC1055100.578
ADKR10468-0.559
GG10376-0.31
SW10376-0.815