Michael Pepper of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20) Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat Gulf Giants by 32 runs to book a top-four finish in the World ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. In the final league game of the season, the Knight Riders secured a decisive win and will face Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator on January 1. Desert Vipers, meanwhile, will face MI Emirates in Qualifier 1 on December 30 for a place in the final.A mammoth 131 opening partnership between Michael Pepper (83 off 51 balls) and Phil Salt (72* off 56) paved the way for the Knight Riders in the playoffs. The duo’s commanding half-century propelled the side to an impressive 179/1. In response, Moeen Ali’s blistering fifty briefly kept the Giants in the hunt, but a lack of support and late double strikes from Sunil Narine and Andre Russell ensured the target remained out of reach.
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Defending 180, Jason Holder set the tone by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the opener and later removing James Vince (19 off 10). Ajay Kumar returned to send back Ben Kellaway (5 off 8) while Narine conceded just five runs in his first two overs. By the end of the power play, the Giants were reeling at 32/3.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Moeen Ali (79 off 49) struck to revive the chase, taking a six off Liam Livingston before punishing Piyush Chawla with a boundary and a maximum. He reached his half-century off 31 balls and added 45 runs with Kyle Mayers (6 off 10). However, Narine struck twice in the 15th over to remove Mayers and Sean Dickson, strengthening the Knight Riders’ grip.
Gulf Giants’ Moeen Ali in action. (IlT20)
The decisive moment came in the 18th over when Andre Russell dismissed Moeen and Aayan Khan in consecutive deliveries. The Knight Riders expertly wrapped up the death overs, restricting the Giants to 147/9 and sealing an emphatic victory.Earlier, Salt and Pepper laid the foundation with a brisk 56-run powerplay stand. Pepper raced to a 31-ball fifty while Salt played a starring role as the pair brought up 100 runs in 67 balls – only their second century of the season. Aayan Khan finally broke the stand when Pepper was run out in the 15th over after hitting six fours and four sixes.
Phil Salt of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in action (ILT20)
Salt reached his half-century off 44 balls before adding an unbeaten 48-run stand with Liam Livingston (18* off 13). Two sixes in the final over helped Knight Riders finish strong at 179/1.Man of the match Michael Pepper said: “It was about patience and waiting for the right matches. When the spinners came in, Salt let me take most of the batting and I was happy to take the responsibility. As a group we just have to keep working hard.”
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Gulf Giants captain James Vince said: “They scored 20 to 30 runs over par on this surface. We couldn’t attack early and with all credit to Pepper and Salt. Our bowling was not at the level we needed and even though Moeen bowled very well, six straight losses is hard to take.”A brief score Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 179/1 in 20 overs (Michael Pepper 83, Phil Salt 72 not out; Aayan Khan 1/34) Giants of the Gulf: 147/9 in 20 overs (Moeen Ali 79, James Vince 19; Andre Russell 3/13, Sunil Narine 2/14, Jason Holder 2/24)
