Pooran, Fletcher help MI Emirates to victory
MI Emirates Captain Nicholas Pooran and his teammate Andre Fletcher in an unbroken partnership, steered their team to an eight-wicket win over Johnson Charles’ Sharjah Warriors at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Sent in to bat, Warriors were dismissed for 129 off their 20 overs with Zimbabwean Sean Williams smacking 35 from 25 deliveries and Charles chipping in with 29 from 31 balls.
West Indies’ Andre Fletcher plays a shot during their ICC World Twenty20 2016 cricket match against Sri Lanka in Bangalore, India, Sunday, March 20, 2016. Associated Press/Aijaz Rahi, file
Charles posted 34 for the first wicket with Sri Lankan Niroshan Dickwella at 17 before falling in the eighth over. Williams then held the innings together lashing three fours and a six.
West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein took two wickets for 20 from four overs.
In reply, chasing a modest 130, Emirates reached their target with nearly nine overs to spare, stretching their lead at the top of the standings on 10 points.
Pooran blasted a nine-ball unbeaten 24, smacking a four and three sixes, while Fletcher counted three fours scoring 22 not out from 18 deliveries.
Together, they put on a 43 run partnership to guarantee Emirates a smooth finish, giving them their fifth win of the ILT20.
Sri Lankan Kusal Pereira had earlier top scored with 47 off 27 deliveries smacking five fours and a couple of sixes, to inspire an opening stand of 80 with Muhammad Waseem, who coasted 37 runs from only 13 deliveries which included four fours and three sixes.
