Pooran, Fletcher help MI Emirates to victory

Mumbai Indians Emirates were the champions of the ILT20 after the West Indies duo of Nicholas Pooran and Andre Fletcher lashed half-centuries giving them up a 45-run win against Dubai Capitals in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.

Pooran, captain of the MI Emirates, smacked two fours and six sixes top scoring with 57 from 27 balls to earn the Player-of-the-Match award, and helped his side to 208 for three after they were put into bat.

West Indies’ captain Kieron Pollard bats during the third and final One-Day International Cricket Match of the series between India and West Indies in Cuttack, India, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. Associated Press /Mahesh Kumar A.

He shared 56 for third wicket with Fletcher, who scored 53 off 37 balls, which included three fours and four sixes, and he dominated an unbroken fourth wicket stand of exactly 50 with retired West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard that propelled MI Emirates to the highest total in the tournament this year.

In reply, the Capitals got off to the worst possible start when West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein trapped Leus du Plooy lbw for a duck with the second ball of the chase.

The Capitals kept losing the wickets regularly and slumped to 113 for five in the 14th over after Viyaskanth got Banton stumped by Pooran for 35 and Sikandar Raza caught at deep mid-wicket, and Waqar Salamkheil had captain Sam Billings also stumped by Pooran.

Billings hit the top score of 40 from 29 balls, but the team failed to take advantage of MI Emirates spilling no less than six catches.

There were no significant partnerships for the Capitals, and they were restricted to 163 for seven.

New Zealand left-arm pacer Trent Boult and Sri Lankan leg-spinner Vjayakanth Viyaskanth collected two wickets apiece.

During a TV interview  Pooran said, “I couldn’t ask for anything else from this team. This is exactly what we wanted. We planned how we wanted to go about this game, and it’s nice to see the guys go out there and execute.”

“Winning this trophy, the Mumbai Indians franchise has the most trophies in this format, so it is a huge accomplishment, and I am really happy to be a part of the franchise and winning.”