Pathum Nissanka’s authoritative 81 and Azmatullah Omarzai’s all-round impact guided the Gulf Giants to a commanding six-wicket victory over MI Emirates in their ILT20 season opener.
UAE | By Taieb Khatizwal
The Gulf Giants launched their ILT20 2025–26 campaign with a convincing win, defeating defending champions MI Emirates by six wickets at the Dubai International Stadium. The result ended the Giants’ six-match losing run at this venue and immediately set the tone for their season.
Pathum Nissanka produced the innings of the night, striking 81 off 42 balls with an assured blend of control and fluency. His knock, supported by a blistering 39* off 16 from Azmatullah Omarzai, overshadowed Kieron Pollard’s fifty and Nicholas Pooran’s rebuilding efforts for MI Emirates.
MI Emirates Struggle Early After Choosing to Bat
MI Emirates, asked to bat first, were rocked early as Nuwan Thushara removed both Mohammed Waseem and Jonny Bairstow with sharp, attacking spells. Omarzai added to the pressure by bowling Tom Banton in the third over, reducing MI Emirates to 36/3 inside the powerplay.
Nicholas Pooran and Tajinder Singh attempted to stabilise, adding 27 runs, but Moeen Ali ended that partnership, leaving Emirates 58/4 at the halfway mark. Pollard injected much-needed momentum with three consecutive sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi, while Pooran attacked Haider Razzaq to lift the scoring rate.
Their 50-run stand came just in time, though Pooran’s dismissal in the 18th over halted a late surge. Pollard fell in the final over, but Romario Shepherd’s quickfire 18* off 6 and Rashid Khan’s single-ball six carried MI Emirates to a competitive 163/6.
Nissanka Anchors the Giants’ Chase
The reply began shakily for the Giants. Chris Woakes struck twice—removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gerhard Erasmus—to leave the chase wobbling at 9/2. Nissanka and Moeen Ali rebuilt sensibly, adding 67 before a run-out ended Moeen’s promising 26 off 21.
Nissanka, meanwhile, found his rhythm. After a watchful start, he accelerated past fifty from 30 balls, collecting boundaries at will. His timing remained the defining feature of the innings, even as Emirates rotated their bowlers in search of control.
Omarzai Turns the Game with a Brutal Burst
The decisive shift came when Omarzai targeted Rashid Khan in a 23-run over, smashing three sixes and a four to seize full command of the match. Nissanka was followed by punishing Chris Woakes with a sequence of boundaries before falling in the 15th over.
Omarzai held firm, steering the chase to completion in just 14.4 overs, sealing a confident win to open the season.
Reactions from the Captains
Giants’ stand-in captain Moeen Ali praised the clinical start:
“We bowled exceptionally well in the first 10 overs. Nissanka was outstanding—calm, world-class, and precise. Omarzai changed the game by taking on Rashid Khan at the right moment.”
MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard admitted his side were short with the bat:
“Losing three wickets in the power play put us under pressure. We had to rebuild, and while we fought back, we didn’t finish as well as we needed. Execution must improve.”
Brief Scores
Gulf Giants beat MI Emirates by six wickets
MI Emirates 163/6 (20 overs):
Kieron Pollard 50, Nicholas Pooran 46, Romario Shepherd 18*
Nuwan Thushara 2/41, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/32
Gulf Giants 164/4 (14.4 overs):
Pathum Nissanka 81, Azmatullah Omarzai 39*, Moeen Ali 26
Chris Woakes 2/49, A.M. Ghazanfar 1/18