James Vince Breezes Gulf Giants Into ILT20 Finals With 4 Wicket Win Against MI Emirates

GUL vs EMI: Skipper James Vince maintained his top form as his thunderous knock guided Gulf Giants to a 4-wicket win against MI Emirates in the Qualifier 2 of ILT20. Gulf Giants will now face off against Desert Vipers in the final of the inaugural International League T20. 

Chasing 168 to win, Giants went off to a good start as openers Vince and Chris Lynn added 64 runs for the first wicket inside the powerplay. Lynn was dismissed on the last bowl of the powerplay against DJ Bravo, after scoring 24 runs in 14 balls. 

Gulf Giants lost Colin de Grandhomme (10), Gerhard Erasmus (12) and Shimron Hetmyer (0) cheaply, but captain James Vince held the other end. David Wiese looked dangerous in his 10-ball stay, scoring 15 runs. However, the Namibian was dismissed by Rashid Khan in the 16th over. 

But Vince went on smashing at the other end, taking his team across the winning line with 11 deliveries remaining. Vince scored an unbeaten 83 runs off 56 balls with 10 fours & a six. For MI Emirates, Afghanis Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rashid Khan picked up 2 wickets each while DJ Bravo & Trent Boult managed 1 wicket each to their name.

In the first innings, At the back of an impressive bowling performance, Gulf Giants were able to shatter the MI Emirates top order. However, captain Kieron Pollard stepped up with a fifty as MI posted 167/5 against Giants in the 2nd Qualifier of ILT20.

MI Emirates lost their last match here, Andre Fletcher (4) in the 2nd over of the innings. Number 3 Lorcan Tucker (21) was also dismissed inside the powerplay as Carlos Brathwaite and Chris Jordan registered a wicket each inside the first 6 overs. 

Dan Mousley (7) and opener Muhammad Waseem (31) were dismissed in quick succession in the 10th and 11th overs. From there, Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran tried to stabilize the inning as the two West Indians etched a partnership of 71 runs for the 5th wicket. 

Pollard remained the top scorer for his team with 57* runs off 35 balls, including 3 fours & 4 sixes, while Pooran managed 29 runs off 25 balls with 3 sixes, surviving three dropped catches and ultimately getting dismissed in the 18th over. For Gulf Giants, Chris Jordan and David Wiese picked up 2 wickets each while Carlos Brathwaite managed 1 wicket. 

Earlier, Gulf Giants captain James Vince won the toss & opted to bowl first against MI Emirates in the 2nd Qualifier of the International League T20. This match was played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

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