Raza shines again

ZIMBABWE T20I captain, Sikandar Raza put up an impressive all-round performance as the Dubai Capitals eliminated Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 85 runs.

The Capitals turned on a clinical show in the Eliminator of the DP World ILT20 season 2 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night.

Raza was named player-of-the-match for his breezy 40 off 19 balls with the bat and two wickets for 27 with the ball.

Receiving the award, Raza said:

“Any time a role is given to me, I will try to give my best. As long as I am prepared, I am happy to do it.

“We thought that if we get 160, they have to bat really well to win.

“Once we got 188, all we had to do was to get wickets in the powerplay. And once we did that, we were always in the game.”

Dubai Capitals’ winning total of 188 for 5 was built around invaluable and timely knocks from opener Tom Banton, who scored 44 off 31 balls, Tom Abell, who contributed 41 off 29 balls and skipper Sam Billings, who remained unbeaten on 46 off 26 balls as well as Raza’s five boundaries and one six.

Knight Riders failed to rise to the challenge and were bowled out for a paltry 103 runs through splendid bowling displays from Scott Kuggeleijn (4 for 17) backed by Zahir Khan (2 for 25) and Sikandar Raza (2 for 27). Capitals thus booked their slot for the Qualifier 2.

Knight Riders’ chase began on a bad note, losing opener Jason Roy to the second delivery of the first over from Kuggeleijn for a duck. Opener Michael Pepper too fell in the second over to Olly Stone brilliantly caught by a diving Abell at cover for 5.

Capitals further strengthened their position through Kuggeleijn forcing one-drop Joe Clarke to play into the hands of Leus Du Plooy for 13 and consistent Alishan Sharafu out to a spectacular diving catch by Dasun Shanaka at short cover point for a duck. Half the Knight Riders were back in dug-out when Laurie Evans going for a sweep got bowled by Zahir Khan for 7.

With the score reading 46 for 5, Sam Hain managed to keep the score ticking through a sedate 29 before the accurate Raza clean bowled him. Raza then went on to end David Willey’s knock of 36 by clean bowling him too. Kuggeleijin speeded up the victory getting skipper Sunil Narine too caught by Banton at mid-off for 1. - Sports Reporter/ILT20