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The Gulf Giants returned to the winning column after a narrow Super Over defeat in their previous outing, chasing down a target of 158 against the Sharjah Warriorz. Rahmanullah Gurbaz starred with a 50, while Aayan Khan impressed with figures of 3 for 17, restricting the Warriorz to a chaseable total. The Sharjah Warriorz have now suffered defeats in all three of their opening matches.
Sharjah Warriorz Batting: Early Momentum Slows
The Warriorz began positively, with Johnson Charles striking two boundaries in each of the first two overs. Mark Adair provided the first breakthrough, dismissing Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Kusal Mendis contributed with a four and a six shortly after arriving at the crease, pushing the team to 48 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay.
The introduction of Aayan Khan in the eighth over paid immediate dividends as he claimed Kusal’s wicket. In the following over, he dismissed Charles as well, leaving the Warriorz struggling at 69 for 3 after 10 overs.
From overs 7 to 12, Liam Dawson and Aayan tightened the run flow, conceding only 31 runs. Tim David attempted to accelerate with a few boundaries, but Aayan forced a miscued shot, caught by Dawson. Aayan wrapped up his spell by removing Sikandar Raza on the final ball, finishing with 4-0-21-1.
The innings received late impetus from Dwaine Pretorius, who smashed 36 off 17 balls. Pretorius launched two boundaries off Nuwan Thushara and then targeted Omarzai for two sixes and a four in the 19th over, scoring 20 runs. Adil Rashid added a boundary to take the Warriorz total to 157 for 6 in 20 overs.
Gulf Giants Chase: Gurbaz and Vince Lead the Charge
The Giants opened with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and James Vince, as Pathum Nissanka was rested by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. Vince attacked early, launching three boundaries and a six off Wasim Akram in the second over, scoring 21 runs. Gurbaz was equally aggressive, hitting two sixes off Tim Southee. By the start of the fifth over, the duo had accumulated a 50-run partnership, putting the Warriorz on the back foot.
Sikandar Raza eventually broke the partnership by dismissing Vince, and along with Maheesh Theekshana, curtailed scoring in the middle overs. Gurbaz reached a well-compiled 50 off Adil Rashid, but soon fell shortly after Moeen Ali’s dismissal, holing out to Tim David off Raza.
With 37 needed from the last four overs, Omarzai struck a six to keep the chase alive. A quiet over from Southee left 17 runs required from 12 balls. Omarzai managed a boundary off Rashid, reducing the target to 9 from 6, and hit a six off Southee before being dismissed on the next ball. Ultimately, Sean Dickson finished the chase, securing a 6-wicket victory for Gulf Giants in 19.4 overs.
Brief Scores
Sharjah Warriorz: 157/6 in 20 overs
(Dwaine Pretorius 36, Johnson Charles 36; Aayan Khan 3-17, Mark Adair 2-22*)
Gulf Giants: 158/4 in 19.4 overs
(Rahmanullah Gurbaz 50, James Vince 35; Sikandar Raza 2-20, Adil Rashid 1-21)
Result: Gulf Giants won by 6 wickets.
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IMAGE CREDITS : CRICBUZZ
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