Pathum Nissanka continued his outstanding run in the ILT20, blasting a fiery 67 from just 31 balls, helping the Gulf Giants maintain their unbeaten streak with a second consecutive win. James Vince provided stability with a calm, unbeaten 50 off 45 deliveries as the Giants successfully chased down 161, sealing a four-wicket victory over the Dubai Capitals.
Put in to bat, the Capitals opened their innings with a boundary in each of the first few overs, but Azmatullah Omarzai struck early by forcing Shayan Jahangir to drag one onto his stumps. After a few quiet overs, David Willey and Sediqullah Atal shifted gears, each launching a six off the Afghan pacer to inject momentum. Their partnership flourished with a 61-run stand across seven overs before Atal mistimed a pull shot off Moeen Ali, finding deep mid-wicket.
The breakthrough allowed Moeen and Liam Dawson to tighten things up with two economical overs. Dawson later removed the well-set Willey, while Ayaan Khan added to the pressure by dismissing Gulbadin Naib, reducing the Capitals to 93/4 at the 14-over mark. Jordan Cox tried to revive the innings, smashing two sixes and two fours in a brisk 17-ball 31, taking on Moeen with confidence. However, the momentum stalled again in the 18th over as both Cox and Rovman Powell fell to Omarzai.
In search of a late surge, Dasun Shanaka delivered a strong finish, pulling Omarzai for four and then hammering two off-side sixes in a high-scoring final over worth 18 runs, guiding the Capitals to a competitive 160/6 in 20 overs.
Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants Match Scorecard:
During the chase, Rahmanullah Gurbaz survived an early review and quickly lifted Willey over mid-wicket for six, but he departed soon after to a brilliant catch from Cox. Nissanka, coming off an 81 in his previous outing, immediately attacked Mustafizur Rahman with a straight boundary and a towering mid-wicket six.
The Sri Lankan opener went after James Neesham next, smashing him for 22 runs in the fifth over—including two flat sixes, a four, and another maximum down the ground. Vince also joined the scoring, striking consecutive boundaries off Mustafizur as the Giants raced to 60/1 at the end of the PowerPlay. A dropped chance by Willey further highlighted the Capitals’ sloppy fielding.
Nissanka’s half-century arrived in style—reaching 50 off just 23 balls with back-to-back boundaries in the 10th over. He continued his assault by hitting Waqar Salamkheil for two fours and a six in a 15-run over, keeping the Giants firmly on course. His blazing knock ended when Mustafizur had him caught by Cox at long-on.
Despite a small cluster of wickets near the end, Vince held his ground, completing his 11th ILT20 fifty and guiding the Gulf Giants safely past the target.
Brief Scorecard (Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants Match Scorecard)
Dubai Capitals: 160/6 (20 overs) — Sediqullah Atal 35, Jordan Cox 31; Azmatullah Omarzai 3/46
Gulf Giants: 161/6 (18.5 overs) — Pathum Nissanka 67, James Vince 50*; Dasun Shanaka 2/16
Result: Gulf Giants won by 4 wickets
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