Pooran, Waseem blast MI Emirates into ILT20 playoffs
MI Emirates stormed into the ILT20 playoffs on Tuesday at Zayed Cricket Stadium with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Gulf Giants, powered by an unbeaten 140-run stand between Nicholas Pooran and Muhammad Waseem. Chasing 142, MI Emirates slipped to 2/2, but the pair flipped the script — Waseem finishing 59* off 42 and Pooran 69* off 49, with six sixes, as the target was sealed with 21 balls to spare.
Player of the Match Waseem said: “The focus was simply to survive the first three or four overs and build a partnership… then wait for the loose deliveries.” Giants captain James Vince admitted his side misread the innings, saying: “We were short of runs again… Losing early wickets really knocked the momentum out of our innings.”