In a commanding display at the DP World ILT20 Season 3, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders clinched their first victory by defeating the Sharjah Warriorz by 30 runs at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The triumph was spearheaded by exceptional bowling performances from Jason Holder, who secured four wickets for 23 runs, and David Willey, who took three wickets for 19 runs, effectively defending their team’s total of 159/5. 

Knight Riders’ Innings 

Opting to bat first, the Knight Riders faced early challenges as Adam Milne’s fiery opening spell dismantled the stumps of Phil Salt and Kyle Mayers, reducing them to 26/2 within three overs. Mayers had provided a brisk start, scoring 21 runs off nine balls, including two fours and two sixes. By the end of the powerplay, the scoreboard read 49/2. 

Joe Clarke, coming in at number three, stabilised the innings with a composed 32 runs off 27 balls. However, Michael Pepper’s stint was short-lived, as he fell to Adil Rashid for seven runs, caught by UAE’s Rohan Mustafa at deep backward square leg. Harmeet Singh further dented the Knight Riders’ progress by trapping Clarke lbw in the 12th over. 

Alishan Sharafu contributed with a valuable 24 runs, forming partnerships of 24 and 23 runs with Clarke and Laurie Evans, respectively, before being dismissed by Adil Rashid, leaving the team at 109/5 in 15.3 overs. 

The innings gained momentum in the death overs, courtesy of an unbroken 50-run partnership between Andre Russell and Laurie Evans. Evans remained unbeaten on 39 runs from 31 balls, while Russell’s explosive 24 runs off 12 deliveries provided the late surge, enabling the Knight Riders to post a competitive total of 159/5. 

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Warriorz’s Response 

The Sharjah Warriorz’s chase faltered early, mirroring the Knight Riders’ innings, as David Willey struck twice in the first three overs, removing openers Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Jason Roy. Johnston Charles attempted a counterattack but was caught at deep backward square leg off Jason Holder’s bowling, leaving the Warriorz struggling at 29/3 after six overs. 

Rohan Mustafa provided a glimmer of hope with a quick 21 runs, including four boundaries, before falling to Holder in the eighth over. Willey returned to dismiss Karim Janat for nine runs, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s painstaking seven runs off 19 balls ended when he was bowled by Shahid Bhutta in the 13th over, reducing the Warriorz to 70/6. 

Lower-order contributions from Harmeet Singh (eight runs) and Keemo Paul (a couple of boundaries) were insufficient, as Holder claimed both wickets in the death overs. With 54 runs required from the last two overs, captain Tim Southee showcased resistance by hitting two fours and two sixes in the 19th over. However, the effort was in vain, as Mayers dismissed Southee in the final over, and the Warriorz were bowled out for 129 runs in 19.3 overs. 

Player of the Match 

David Willey’s exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade. Reflecting on his approach, Willey stated, “I always aim to take wickets and try to swing the new ball to achieve that. The scoreboard generally dictates what we need, and I focus on reading the game well to deliver accordingly. I’ve built my career around swinging the ball and always strive to stay one step ahead of the batter.” 

Captain’s Perspective 

Sharjah Warriorz’s captain, Tim Southee, acknowledged the difficulties the team faced. He remarked, “The pitch was a tricky one. It is still early stages of the tournament; we will dust ourselves off and look forward to the next ones. We would like our dot balls to be a lot lower than 70 balls, so we will try to minimise that. We know this game can change quickly, so we get a day off tomorrow, and we go again.” 

Don’t Miss Out on the DP World ILT20 2025 Experience 

This victory marks a significant turnaround for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, instilling confidence as they progress in the tournament. The Sharjah Warriorz, meanwhile, will need to reassess their strategies and build more substantial partnerships to revive their campaign in the upcoming matches. 

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Looking Ahead 

The DP World ILT20 Season 3 continues to deliver thrilling cricketing action, with teams vying for supremacy in this prestigious league. Fans can look forward to more exhilarating encounters as the tournament unfolds. 

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