- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR14.6 high up in the night sky and Adair at long on takes the catch. First breakthrough for Gulf Giants. Pepper popped this one in the air, trying to play straight down the ground 131/1Extras6 (lb 2, w 4)TOTAL179/1 (20 Overs, RR: 8.95)Fall of wickets: 1-131 (Michael Pepper, 14.6 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB KR Mayers 1 0 6 0 6 3 0 0 0 0 MR Adair 2 0 13 0 6.5 7 2 0 1 0 Azmatullah Omarzai 4 0 52 0 13 5 1 5 1 0 Aayan Afzal Khan 4 0 34 1 8.5 8 1 2 1 0 Zuhaib Zubair 2 0 17 0 8.5 3 2 0 0 0 T Shamsi 4 0 29 0 7.25 5 2 0 1 0 Ali Khan 3 0 26 0 8.66 2 1 1 0 0
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR0.6 shouts of 'catch it' and taken by Salt who was tracking back seeing the ball till the end. This was a length ball following Gurbaz with him backing away. Tries to tonk a slog to the leg side but he got a thick top-edge. That's 350 T20 wickets for Holder too 4/12.6 full ball just outside off. He clears the front leg and goes for a hoick to the leg side. Ball flies high up towards midwicket where Piyush Chawla gets under it despite a big swirl while coming down 24/24.2 full on middle. Goes for a big shot over the leg side but it takes a leading edge that goes high up. Cover gets under it and takes this one 29/317.2 full ball just outside off. Moeen goes for a big shot down the ground but he doesn't have the distance. Long off settles under the ball and it's also swirling down, but he manages to compose himself and take a catch while also taking a tumble. The key batter is out and GG are now staring at defeat (and elimination) 132/79.1 edged to the keeper! Smart catch from Salt, diving to his right. Length ball outside off and angling in slightly. Omarzai might've wanted to guide it fine past the keeper, the way he poked at it, but it didn't have the direction desired 62/414.2 taken off the glove? Big caught appeal but not given. Length ball on off stump and turning away from the left hander. Mayers tries the reverse swat. Ball hits his arm and pops up over Salt's head for Russell at first slip to take a catch. Was there any glove involved? Oh yes, it was. ADKR wanted a wicket, Narine gets them one. Umpire's decision changed upon review 107/514.4 what a brilliant catch courtesy Russell! And what an over from Narine! Full ball on leg stump. Dickson tries to flick it leg side but the ball straightens, takes the bat's leading edge, and Russell dives to his right from first slip to send the impact sub back for a two-ball duck! 107/617.3 two in two! Russell's on a hat-trick! Fullish ball, sixth-stump line. Aayan tries to reach out and slap the ball, but all he can get is a thick edge to Piyush Chawla lurking at short third! 132/819.1 off stump flattened! Full and straight. You-miss-I-hit stuff. He tried to go down the ground but the ball went under the bat 142/9Extras8 (lb 2, w 6)TOTAL147/9 (20 Overs, RR: 7.35)Did not bat: T ShamsiFall of wickets: 1-4 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 0.6 ov), 2-24 (James Vince, 2.6 ov), 3-29 (Ben Kellaway, 4.2 ov), 4-62 (Azmatullah Omarzai, 9.1 ov), 5-107 (Kyle Mayers, 14.2 ov), 6-107 (Sean Dickson, 14.4 ov), 7-132 (Moeen Ali, 17.2 ov), 8-132 (Aayan Afzal Khan, 17.3 ov), 9-142 (Ali Khan, 19.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB JO Holder 4 0 24 2 6 9 1 0 1 0 Ajay Kumar 4 0 40 1 10 8 4 1 4 0 SP Narine 4 0 14 2 3.5 15 0 1 0 0 PP Chawla 2 0 19 0 9.5 4 2 1 0 0 LS Livingstone 2 0 14 0 7 4 0 1 0 0 OP Stone 2 0 21 1 10.5 4 2 1 0 0 AD Russell 2 0 13 3 6.5 5 1 0 1 0
Match Details
Toss
Gulf Giants , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Season
Hours of play (local time)
18.30 start, First Session 18.30-20.00, Interval 20.00-20.20, Second Session 20.20-21.50
Match days
28 December 2025 - night match (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Points
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 2, Gulf Giants 0
Match Notes
- Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 56 runs, 0 wicket)
- Over 2.4: Review by Gulf Giants (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batter - MS Pepper (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 50 runs in 5.4 overs (34 balls), Extras 3
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 34 balls (PD Salt 16, MS Pepper 31, Ex 3)
- Strategic Timeout: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders - 56/0 in 6.0 overs (PD Salt 16, MS Pepper 37)
- MS Pepper: 50 off 31 balls (5 x 4, 3 x 6)
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 100 runs in 11.1 overs (67 balls), Extras 4
- 1st Wicket: 100 runs in 67 balls (PD Salt 31, MS Pepper 65, Ex 4)
- Strategic Timeout: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders - 136/1 in 16.0 overs (PD Salt 46, LS Livingstone 2)
- PD Salt: 50 off 44 balls (2 x 4, 2 x 6)
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 150 runs in 17.4 overs (106 balls), Extras 5
- Innings Break: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders - 179/1 in 20.0 overs (PD Salt 72, LS Livingstone 18)
- Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 32 runs, 3 wickets)
- Over 3.1: Review by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - MJ Saggers, Batter - BI Kellaway (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- Gulf Giants: 50 runs in 8.2 overs (50 balls), Extras 2
- Strategic Timeout: Gulf Giants - 62/3 in 9.0 overs (MM Ali 28, Azmatullah Omarzai 8)
- MM Ali: 50 off 31 balls (4 x 4, 3 x 6)
- Gulf Giants: 100 runs in 13.2 overs (80 balls), Extras 3
- Over 13.4: Review by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - MJ Saggers, Batter - MM Ali (Struck down)
- Over 14.2: Review by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batter - KR Mayers (Upheld)
- Strategic Timeout: Gulf Giants - 115/6 in 16.0 overs (MM Ali 70, MR Adair 2)
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