Liam Livingstone (Image credit: ILT20) Liam Livingstone’s explosive unbeaten 82 off 38 balls, including five sixes in the final over, propelled Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to a 39-run victory over Sharjah Warriorz in their opening match of the ILT20 Season 4 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The Knight Riders posted 233/4, the second highest total in the history of the tournament, while the Warriorz managed 194/9 in reply.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford put on a crucial partnership of 95 runs, with Rutherford contributing 45 off 27 balls. Alex Hales and Alishan Sharafu provided the early impetus with their opening partnership scoring 32 off 19 and 34 off 23 respectively.
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In the final, Livingstone set a new record by smashing Dwayne Pretorius for 33 runs, including four consecutive sixes. Adil Rashid proved to be Warriorz’ most effective bowler with figures of 2/31. The Warriorz chase got off to a poor start, losing three crucial wickets for just 56 runs in the first seven overs. Tim David led the counter-attack with 60 off 24 balls, including six sixes, and reached his fifty off 21 balls.Ajay Kumar’s spell of 1/22 in four overs, including David’s crucial wicket in the 13th over, effectively ended the Warriors’ hopes. Dwayne Pretorius scored 39 off 20 and Adil Rashid 25 off 11, including three sixes off Andre Russell’s one.
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The Knight Riders’ innings began with a quick 15 off 9 from Michael Pepper before his dismissal in the third over. Hales and Sharafu then built a 51-run partnership during the power over.Adil Rashid’s double strike reduced the Knight Riders to 88/3 in ten overs, but Livingstone and Rutherford kept the momentum going with consecutive 19 overs. Andre Russell joined Livingstone for a quick-fire partnership of 50 runs in just 13 balls.“The boys up top played well and built a solid foundation. It took me a while to get going as the pitch was a bit slow in the middle but luckily I found a rhythm towards the end,” said Man of the Match Liam Livingstone.“It was a dangerous batting line-up and the only way to slow them down was with wickets. We weren’t able to do it through the middle overs or at the back end. We were a bit out with the ball and probably in the field, and credit to the Knight Riders because they played well,” remarked Sharjah Warriorz captain Tim Southee.Knight Riders’ final total of 233/4 included significant contributions from Livingstone (82 not out), Rutherford (45) and Sharaf (34). Adil Rashid took 2/31 while Saurabh Netravalkar took 1/33.Sharjah Warriorz finished on 194/9 with Tim David top scoring with 60, supported by Pretorius (39) and Rashid (25). George Garton (2/24), Olly Stone (2/37) and Andre Russell (2/48) were the top wicket takers for the Knight Riders.
