There are just two spots remaining in the DP World International League T20 playoffs bus as Desert Vipers and Gulf Giants confirmed their spots in the knockouts with victories over Sharjah Warriors and MI Emirates respectively. The month-long DP World ILT20 is being held across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The bowlers came to the fore in both the games as Desert Vipers’ leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and fast bowler Luke Wood picked up a three-wicket haul each to defend a relatively low score of 148 for six against Sharjah Warriors on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Chris Jordan returned with brilliant figures of three for 12 to help his team bowl out the MI Emirates for 139. However, the Giants made heavy weather of the chase and they needed a last-ball six from Shimron Hetmyer to clinch a five-wicket victory on Wednesday.
The Dubai Capitals kept their playoffs hopes alive with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on Monday. Opening batter George Munsey played a crucial innings of 57 runs from 43 balls to take his team over the line.
The MI Emirates, Sharjah Warriors and Dubai Capitals are currently at the third, fourth and fifth places respectively and will battle it out in their last two league games each to find a place in the playoffs. All three teams need to win both their games to give themselves the best chance to qualify for the knockouts.
The Sharjah Warriors have been bolstered by the return of their English stars Chris Woakes, Dawid Malan and captain Moeen Ali at a critical juncture of the competition. The dynamic trio, who left for international duty after Sharjah Warriors’ fifth game, have returned for the remainder of the tournament.
Belt Contenders
While the teams fight it out for the coveted playoffs spots, the race to the individual players awards is also heating up. Gulf Giants’ Chris Jordan is currently the White Belt holder with 13 wickets in the tournament so far. However, Desert Vipers’ Wanindu Hasaranga and Sharjah Warriors’ Naveen-ul-Haq are just behind him with 10 wickets each in the highest wicket-takers’ table.
Desert Vipers’ Alex Hales, who has scored 438 runs in the tournament so far, has been comfortably leading the Green Belt table. MI Emirates’ captain Kieron Pollard is at the second place with 294 runs and Dubai Capitals’ captain Rovman Powell is at the third place with 287 runs in the top run-scorers’ ranks.
The hard-hitting Alex Hales is also a strong contender for the Red Belt as he is leading the Most Valuable Players’ table as well. Meanwhile, MI Emirates’ Muhammad Waseem is a top contender for the Blue Belt as he is leading the Most Valuable UAE Players’ list.
The Most Valuable Players are decided based on a unique point scoring system devised by the DP World ILT20. The players are given certain number of points for their performance with bat, ball and on the field in every match.
With a century and four fifties to his name, Hales has amassed 172 points in the competition so far. Meanwhile, Dubai Capitals’ captain Rovman Powell and MI Emirates’ captain Kieron Pollard are just behind Hales with 152 points and 148.5 points respectively in the race to the Red Belt.
MI Emirates’ Muhammad Waseem, who has scored 243 runs in seven matches, has been the best UAE player so far in the competition with 120.5 points. However, Sharjah Warriors’ Junaid Siddique, who has mesmerised the crowds with nine wickets in the competition, is closing in on Waseem in the battle for the Blue Belt with 113.5 points in the tournament. Desert Vipers’ Rohan Mustafa is at the third position on the Most Valuable UAE Players’ table with 92.5 points.
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