Pooran takes MI Emrites to first win

Captain Nicholas Pooran struck 51 off 28 balls to help MI Emirates earn an 18- run victory over Shimron Hetmyer’s Gulf Giants, in the fourth game of the ILT20 as MI Emirates rallied to 179 for five off their 20 overs, after being sent in to bat.

In reply, Gulf Giants were restricted to 161 for nine, the West Indies pair of Akeal Hosein and Dwayne Bravo helping to restrict scoring.

Hetmyer managed only 15 as captain James Vince belted 52 from 43 deliveries at the top of the order.

This was the first win for MI Emirates following defeat in their opener while for Giants, the loss was their first after making a winning start to the competition.

MI Emirates lost an early wicket but were revived thanks to a 41-run, second wicket stand between West Indies batsman Andre Fletcher who made 28 and opener Muhammad Waseem with 19.

When the innings declined to 66 for three in the 12th over, Pooran came to its rescue, posting 69 for the fourth wicket with Ambati Rayudu  with 25.

He struck three fours and four sixes before joining Rayudu who both fell in the 18th over.

Tim David then blasted a 15-ball unbeaten 41 to dominate a 42-run unbroken sixth wicket stand with veteran former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo one not out, to give the innings a strong finish.

Vince struck seven fours and a six in a 48-run opening partnership with Jamie Smith at 17.

When Afghan left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi with 4-25 removed both Smith and Jordan Cox (0) in the sixth over, Vince added a further 48 for the third with Usman Khan at 22 before both of them perished.

Overton struck one four and five sixes, combined in a 54-run, fifth wicket stand with Hetmyer but left-arm spinner Hosein and pacer Bravo put it to an end.