Sport

Gulf Giants prevail over Knight Riders by three runs to confirm Qualifier 1 berth against MI Emirates

Published

2 years ago

February 11, 2024

Gulf Giants pulled off a hard-fought three-runs win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the 28th match of the DP World ILT20 season 2 at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday and secured their spot in the Qualifier 1 against MI Emirates.

Their skipper James Vince’s knock of 50 in 39 balls with five boundaries and a six, Jordan Cox’s 57 runs off 38 balls with two boundaries and four sixes, and their 103 opening partnership backed by Shimron Hetmyer’s unbeaten 39 off 27 balls with five boundaries gave them a total of 166 for 3 in 20 overs.

Earlier, second-placed Gulf Giants won the toss and elected to bat against the third-placed Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Giants skipper and consistent scorer, James Vince said after the match: “The last four games have been magnificent. The last two games, we were in the game. They were ahead in the game, we showed a lot of character to fight back.”

Player of the Match, Jamie Overton, explained in length how he bowled: “In T20, it’s hard (to keep the cool). You just back what you are doing. We try to be unpredictable with our lengths. The wicket was slow at times. Some stopped a little bit, some skidded through. Back end, you are going to get hit, you just got to keep backing yourself.”

He hailed UAE spinners Aayan Khan and Zuhaib Zubair too saying: “They have been phenomenal, holding those middle overs and picking crucial wickets.”

Dubai Capitals inch closer to Qualifier berth

In the second match of the day Saturday, Dubai Capitals pulled off an impressive 19-run victory against MI Emirates at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to register their fifth victory of the competition.

With this result, Desert Vipers are no longer in the race for a position in the play-offs while Dubai Capitals put themselves in a very good position to join the MI Emirates, Gulf Giants and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

However, their fate relies on Sunday’s match between Sharjah Warriors and Desert Vipers.

The Dubai Capitals were mediocre with the bat besides the top order performances from Max Holden who scored 51 runs in just 33 deliveries and Tom Banton who contributed with a score of 37 runs.

The standout performance for the Dubai Capitals were their spinners who wove an intricate web around the MI Emirates batsmen.

However, MI Emirates bowling unit excelled. They were led by stellar spells from Dan Mousley (2/22) and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (2/23). Andre Fletcher played a brave innings of 45 runs, but it was to no avail due to the lack of support.

Invited to bat first, the Dubai Capitals illuminated the stadium early on with openers Tom Banton and Max Holden unleashing an array of strokes that led to nine boundaries in the first four overs including Holden cracking Dwayne Bravo for three consecutive boundaries in the fourth over.

The introduction of Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Dan Mousley into the bowling attack helped stem the flow of runs, however, Capitals were in a commanding position of 57/0 by the end of the powerplay.

Following the match a delighted Sam Billings, captain of the Dubai Capitals, spoke on the team’s approach to the powerplay and the pitch conditions.

He said, “If you look at this tournament, it is about trends. The key area where we have struggled is the powerplay. We are glad that Holden did well today, and Tom Banton also played his part. In different parts of the world, you can score 12-13 per over. But here holding one end up is vital.”

He further commended his bowlers. “Everyone wants the ball and that is always a positive. Zahir Khan came off the plane today morning and did very well for us as well.”

Meanwhile, a disappointed MI Emirates skipper, Keiron Pollard said after the match: “In terms of points and placement in the table, the result is not significant. However, winning is a habit and so is losing.

“Not being able to chase it down has nothing to do with the conditions. It was the sort of total where we needed to bat deep. One or two big overs would have broken the back of the match. Going forward we need to try and plan well. It is a matter of planning and execution.”

Related Topics:#GulfGiants Cricket featured ILT20

Up Next

ATN signs deal to broadcast this year’s local volleyball league tournament

Don't Miss

Nissanka 210* outplays Omarzai, Nabi tons as Sri Lanka win first ODI against Afghanistan

Sport

Afghanistan squad hit by withdrawals ahead of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

Published

13 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Ariana News

The Afghanistan Football Federation has confirmed that several players have withdrawn from the national team ahead of crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifying matches against Myanmar and Syria.

According to the federation, all eligible players were formally invited to join the squad, but a number opted out due to a range of reasons, including family commitments, injuries, security concerns in the Middle East, and club-related obligations.

The players who have withdrawn include Habibullah Askar, Owais Azizi, Abdanjam Haidari, Mohammad Naeem Rahimi, Jabbar Sharza, Faisal Ahmad Hamidi, Jamshid Achakzi, Amid Arzo, Tawfiq Sekandari, and Ramin Safi.

The federation stressed that representing the national team remains both a duty and an honor, urging players to place national commitments at the forefront.

Head coach Jose Antonio Nogueira acknowledged the challenges but indicated a shift in long-term strategy. “After the next two matches, we will place greater focus on domestic Afghan players,” he said, outlining plans to build a squad centered on locally based talent to ensure greater availability, cohesion, and commitment.

Key qualifier details

Afghanistan’s upcoming match against Myanmar in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers will take place at the Thuwunna Youth Training Centre in Yangon on 26 March at 5pm.

The fixture was originally scheduled for November 2025 but was postponed due to Afghanistan’s lack of a home venue. It had initially been set to take place in Qatar before the Asian Football Confederation approved Myanmar as the host, with both federations agreeing to the change.

Myanmar has already secured a 2-1 victory over Afghanistan in the first match.

Group standings and outlook

In Group E, Syria have already secured qualification with 15 points from five matches. Myanmar sit second with six points from four games, while Afghanistan and Pakistan have two points each, although Afghanistan have played fewer matches.

Myanmar are set to face Pakistan in their final group match on 31 March.

Despite the current setbacks, the Afghanistan Football Federation says it remains committed to rebuilding and strengthening the national side, with future decisions aimed at supporting the long-term development of football in the country.

Sport

IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan named Sunrisers’ interim captain ahead of opening clash

Kishan, 27, arrives at the leadership role on the back of strong recent form and growing stature in international cricket.

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2026

Ariana News

With just days to go before the curtain rises on the Indian Premier League 2026 season, anticipation is building among fans worldwide for what promises to be another high-octane edition of cricket’s most lucrative T20 competition.

The 2026 campaign is set to get underway on Saturday, March 28, meaning there are less than five days remaining until the opening match.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will host Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, kicking off a tournament expected to deliver fresh rivalries, emerging stars, and dramatic finishes.

New leadership shift at Sunrisers

In one of the major developments ahead of the new season, Sunrisers Hyderabad—champions of the 2016 edition—have appointed Ishan Kishan as interim captain. The decision comes as regular skipper Pat Cummins continues his recovery from injury and is set to miss the opening matches.

Kishan, 27, arrives at the leadership role on the back of strong recent form and growing stature in international cricket. The explosive left-handed batter was a key contributor to India’s victorious campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and has quickly become one of the most dynamic players in the shortest format.

He joined Sunrisers for INR 11.25 crore (about $1.2 million) during the mega auction ahead of the 2025 season and made an immediate impact.

Last season, Kishan scored 354 runs in 14 matches at an average of 35.40, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 152.58. He also announced himself in style with a blistering unbeaten 106 off just 47 deliveries in his debut match against Rajasthan Royals.

Young Indian talent Abhishek Sharma has been named vice-captain and will support Kishan in leading the side during the early phase of the tournament.

Opening clash and season expectations

Sunrisers face a tough start as they take on the defending champions RCB in the tournament opener, a match that is already generating significant buzz. With several teams undergoing squad reshuffles and strategic changes following recent auctions, IPL 2026 is expected to showcase a new competitive balance across franchises.

Broadcast details for Afghanistan

Fans in Afghanistan will be able to follow every moment of the action live, as Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) holds exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country. Matches will be aired live and exclusively on Ariana Television.

Viewers are also encouraged to follow Ariana TV and Ariana News across social media platforms for the latest updates, breaking news, and in-depth coverage throughout the tournament.

Sport

Afghanistan secures third place at 2026 World Kokpar Championship

Published

3 days ago

March 22, 2026

Ariana News

The national buzkashi team of Afghanistan delivered an impressive performance to claim third place at the 2026 World Kokpar Championship in Kazakhstan.

Afghanistan dominated the group stage with commanding victories—thrashing Hungary 14–0, defeating Russia 5–0, and overcoming Mongolia 7–0—to top Group B and advance to the semi-finals.

Despite a strong effort, Afghanistan fell 4–2 to Uzbekistan in the semi-finals. However, the team responded emphatically in the third-place playoff, beating Russia 6–0 to secure the bronze medal.

Alongside their podium finish, Afghanistan was awarded 4,500,000 Kazakh tenge (around 9,400 US dollars) by the International Kokpar Federation, capping off a successful campaign on the global stage.