That'll do nicely for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders as Esterhuizen smokes this shortish delivery over midwicket for a boundary and seals the game
Warriors vs KnightRiders, 28th Match at Abu Dhabi, ILT20, Feb 04 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
KnightRiders won by 5 wickets (with 20 balls remaining)
Jawadullah bowled well for his four overs, chipping away with three wickets and emerging as one of the rare bright spots for Warriors. Stoinis used his experience well tonight, keeping things quiet but defending 131 was always going to be tough with Clarke stepping on the gas paddle right from the word go, making full use of the powerplay and thumping a quickfire half-century.
Sharjah Warriors are still vying for a place in the playoffs but they would rue the opportunity to improve their chances for advancing in the tournament tonight. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will bow out of the tournament with their first and last win of the inaugural season of ILT20.
Lots of reflection to do before the next season because despite having plenty of firepower in their ranks, they found it tough to get results in their favour. Riders showed their vulnerability to a collapse today as Russell, Asalanka, and King lost wickets in a quick succession and had Warriors scored a few more runs, it might have gone down to the wire given it was a tricky pitch with the ball not coming nicely onto the bat and change-up deliveries making it hard to time the ball.
Pitched up, outside off, props forward to defend down to mid-off
Makes room to leg and thumps it past cover for a couple of runs, brilliant effort in the field saves the boundary
Wipe across the line and gets beaten
Fired on a length, targeting the pads, defended down the track to the right of mid-on
Swings for the stands but finds Naveen at deep fine! So with only four runs away from a win, another batter goes back into the hut as Asalanka leans inside the line and hoists up off his hips. Third umpire took a look if its a clean catch, Naveen gives a thumbs up and its OUT on the big screen. Wickets are tumbling and showing the frailty in Warriors' batting line-up..they seem vulnerable to a collapse
Darts in a bumper wide of off, he lets it go for the keeper to collect
Munched through midwicket! Little too short and he pounces on it, bisects fielders at mid-on and midwicket
Pitched up on tight off stump line, gets an inside edge to keeper's left
Hangs on a to good catch! Almost cleared the fence, got the elevation but not the distance as Woakes takes a superb tumbling catch at deep square. Stirling wanted to hit the winning shot and looks disgruntled as he takes the long walk
Hits the deck hard on a slightly shorter length, lots of width on offer and he jabs away to the off side
Back of a length, plugging away outside off, he goes for the full-blooded whack through the side but the ball whizzed past the outside edge
Round the wicket on a length wide of off, safely negotiated as he taps it away off the backfoot to deep cover-point
Pats it down to cover
Warriors haven't let themselves down in catching! Simple catch for Moeen at mid-off as the big fish Russell departs without much damage, just chips it straight to the fielder. It hasn't been a great tournament for the big guy
Width on a short length, extends his arms to connect but can't get near the ball
Shorter, outside off, he tried to tonk it over midwicket, swing and a miss
Backs away to this short ball and glides it away to deep third man to get off the mark
Skips down, looking to hammer Jawadullah back over head for six but it's a skier and Nabi didn't have to move much at mid-on to pouch it, he settles nicely underneath a straightforward catch.
Slower and shorter on legs, glances this off the hips to fine leg
Over 17 • ADKR 133/5
KnightRiders won by 5 wickets (with 20 balls remaining)