Shayan Jahangir’s brilliant 99 underpinned a hard-fought nine-run victory for the Dubai Capitals over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday, as the Capitals held their nerve to claim their second win of the season.

After early setbacks, the Capitals recovered through a defining 115-run partnership between Jahangir and Jordan Cox. Jahangir anchored the innings with a commanding knock, striking 10 fours and five sixes before falling agonisingly short of a century, guiding his side to a formidable 196/5. His innings marked the highest score by an associate player in the history of the DP World ILT20.

In reply, the Knight Riders struggled to keep pace as wickets fell at regular intervals. Phil Salt provided an early spark with 33, but a series of breakthroughs left the hosts on the back foot. Waqar Salamkheil played a key role with the ball, while disciplined fielding further stalled the chase.

Andre Russell threatened to turn the contest on its head with a powerful unbeaten 53 off 33 balls, sharing a rapid stand with Jason Holder that briefly reignited hopes. However, the Capitals’ bowlers kept their composure at the death, with Muhammad Jawadullah successfully defending 26 runs in the final over to seal the victory.

Earlier, the Capitals had been reduced to 4/2 inside the powerplay before Jahangir and Cox rebuilt the innings. Jahangir accelerated through the middle overs, reaching his half-century with a towering six and maintaining pressure on the Knight Riders’ attack. He later combined with Rovman Powell, who chipped in with an unbeaten 38, to add valuable late runs.

Jahangir was named Player of the Match and said he was proud to contribute to the win and represent USA cricket on the ILT20 stage. Dubai Capitals skipper Dasun Shanaka praised Jahangir’s resilience and character after a challenging start to the innings.

Cricket fans across Afghanistan can meanwhile tune in to Ariana Television today, Sunday December 14, from 2pm to watch the next match.

Two matches are scheduled, with MI Emirates taking on Sharjah Warriors in the first game at 2pm. The second match of the day will see Desert Vipers take on Dubai Capitals from 6.30pm.

Liam Livingstone launched DP World ILT20 Season 4 in spectacular fashion, smashing an unbeaten 82 off 38 balls — including a record 33 runs in the final over — to fire the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to a commanding 39-run victory over the Sharjah Warriorz at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Livingstone’s blitz propelled the Knight Riders to 233/4, the second-highest total in tournament history. His onslaught at the death featured five sixes in the final over off Dwayne Pretorius, with four coming consecutively.

The innings had been well-set earlier by Alex Hales (32 off 19) and Alishan Sharafu (34 off 23), who provided a fast start after Michael Pepper’s short cameo. Sherfane Rutherford (45 off 27) then combined with Livingstone in a 95-run stand that kept the momentum surging. Adil Rashid was the standout bowler for the Warriorz, claiming 2/31.

Chasing 234, the Warriorz faltered early, losing Johnson Charles, Tom Abell and Tom Kohler-Cadmore in the first seven overs to slump to 56/3.

Tim David mounted a fierce counterattack, blasting 60 off 24 and hammering three straight sixes off Piyush Chawla to revive hopes. But with wickets falling around him — including Sikandar Raza (8) and Dinesh Karthik (5) — the pressure mounted. Ajay Kumar ended David’s charge in the 13th over, finishing with impressive figures of 1/22.

With nearly 20 an over required in the final stretch, the chase fizzled despite late hitting from Pretorius (39 off 20) and Adil Rashid (25 off 11). Their cameos pushed the Warriorz to 194/9, still well short of the target.

Earlier Highlights

Pepper opened brightly with three boundaries, but Pretorius removed him early. Hales and Sharafu kept the scoreboard moving before Rashid’s twin strikes broke the stand. Livingstone and Rutherford then dominated the middle overs, taking 19 off both Raza and Pretorius to set up the explosive finish.

Andre Russell chipped in with an unbeaten 11 from just four balls, partnering Livingstone in a 50-run stand off only 13 deliveries.

Reactions

Player of the Match, Liam Livingstone:
“The boys up top set a great platform. It took me a while to adjust, but once I found my rhythm at the end, it came out nicely.”

Sharjah Warriorz captain, Tim Southee:
“Against a lineup like that, you have to take wickets. We couldn’t do that in the middle or at the death. Credit to the Knight Riders — they were outstanding.”

Brief Scores

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 233/4 (20 overs):
Livingstone 82*; Rutherford 45; Sharafu 34; Rashid 2/31; Netravalkar 1/33

Sharjah Warriorz 194/9 (20 overs):
David 60; Pretorius 39; Rashid 25; Garton 2/24; Stone 2/37; Russell 2/48

Result: Knight Riders won by 39 runs
Player of the Match: Liam Livingstone

Fan Zone

Cricket fans across Afghanistan can tune in daily to watch this exciting event live and exclusively on Ariana Television. For details and times of fixture visit ATN and Ariana News social media pages. 

The Desert Vipers opened the new DP World ILT20 season with a commanding victory over the Dubai Capitals on Tuesday night, securing a measure of revenge against Gulbadin Naib—the player who tormented them in last season’s final.

The rivalry flared early. Off just the second ball of the third over, Vipers captain Sam Curran removed Gulbadin for a golden duck, diving low to take a one-handed return catch.

For a side still stung by last season’s defeat—and Gulbadin’s pre-tournament jibes about “defeating Desert Vipers again and again”—the moment was particularly satisfying.

The match unfolded in front of a packed Dubai International Stadium, with seats nearly full 90 minutes before the first ball. A large section remained covered by a banner marking the UAE’s 54th National Day, while pre-match entertainment—including a performance by Pakistani singer Ali Zafar and an Eid Al Etihad-themed fireworks display—drew unusually early crowds.

But much of that energy faded once play began. Despite the hype around the Curran–Gulbadin storyline, fans began leaving as early as the innings break, and the stadium had largely emptied by the 10th over of the chase.

Chasing 151, the Vipers stuttered briefly but reached their target with four wickets and an over to spare.

Local players played prominent roles. Vriitya Aravind marked his ILT20 return with the tournament’s first wicket, holding a difficult swirling catch to dismiss Afghan opener Sediqullah Atal. UAE fast bowler Khuzaima Tanveer also impressed, claiming two wickets and recovering well after an expensive over to Rovman Powell.

The Associate Player of the Match was Andries Gous, the USA batter who recently helped his national side sweep four ODIs in Dubai. His fluent 58 off 36 balls anchored the Vipers’ chase and secured their winning start to Season 4.

The Vipers, two-time finalists, now begin the campaign on the front foot—this time with the satisfaction of having subdued the player who haunted them most.