Raza, Ngarava in ILT20 final
CHEVRONS T20I captain, Sikandar Raza and Richard Ngarava will have a chance to win the second edition of the of the DP World ILT20 season 2 today as the Dubai Capitals take on the MI Emirates in the final.
While Ngarava is yet to feature for the Dubai Capitals after joining them last week, Raza has been a key member of the team as they staged a dramatic recovery to romp into an unlikely final — they secure the final slot of the play-offs right at the end of the league stage.
On Thursday, all-rounder Raza only needed to bowl as Dubai Capitals recorded a stunning nine-wicket victory over reigning champions Gulf Giants in the Qualifier 2 of the DP World ILT20 season 2 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Raza took one wicket for 27 off three overs as the Giants were restricted to 138/6 off their 20 overs while Dubai Capitals lost just one wicket in reaching the target with 25 balls to spare against a side that had won their two matches in the league stage.
Giants skipper James Vince had carried his team’s innings on his shoulder through a knock of 58 runs off 53 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. After a 25-run opening partnership with Usman Khan (21), Vince lifted his team from a disastrous 62 for 5 through a 55-run partnership in 46 deliveries with Chris Jodan (30n.o) for the sixth wicket. Unfortunately, all his efforts went in vain.
Chasing the moderate target, Capitals openers Leus du Plooy and Tom Banton gave a stupendous start putting on a 98 runs partnership.
Du Plooy was severe on strike bowler Jordan hitting him for a six and two boundaries to take 16 runs off his first over.
The opening partnership in 11.1 overs ended when Banton was caught by Overton at long-on off Liam Dawson for a run-a-ball 38 runs.
Du Plooy reached his half century in 35 balls and remained unbeaten on 63 off 40 balls with five boundaries and three sixes, and along with Tom Abell (20n.o), they steered their team into the final to be held on February 17 (Saturday) at the Dubai International Stadium.
Earlier, the Giants had won the toss and elected to bat against the Capitals who were on a three-match winning run.
Usman Khan, who opened the innings, with his skipper Vince, started with a boundary off Scott Kuggeleijn past cover-point and a six over long-off into the press box.
They gathered 25 runs in three overs before Khan, on 21, attempted a leg-side shot and top-edged Jason Holder, resulting in wicketkeeper Sam Billings taking an easy catch.
One-drop Chris Lynn followed with a duck, clean bowled by a delivery that kept low from Haider Ali.
Next, Jordan Cox departed quickly, run out for 2, while Jamie Smith got caught by
Olly Stone at mid-off off Sikandar Raza for a duck.
The responsibility of lifting the Giants out of trouble now fell on Shimron Hetmyer and Vince, with the Giants reeling at 40 for 4 in 7.4 overs. They, however, added only 22 runs together before Hetmyer, attempting to turn Kuggeleijn to leg, got a top edge and was caught by Raza at cover for 8.
Dubai Capitals captain Sam Billings hailed Raza for his role in the team’s journey to the final.
“A combination of factors helped us. Clarity and sticking to real basic cricket, especially on these kinds of wickets. We stuck to a formula. If not for (Sikandar) Raza hitting that last ball, we would have been out of the tournament.
“That really galvanised us and people stepped up. Anything can happen in the finals.
“But we are we confident with our recent form. We won’t take it lightly as they are a great side, but if we play our best cricket, we will be very tough to beat.” —Sports Reporter/ILT20.