ABU DHABI: MI Emirates booked their place in the International League T20 playoffs after an emphatic eight-wicket win over the Gulf Giants at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, marking their fourth consecutive victory in the tournament.
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Chasing 142, MI Emirates were rocked early by incisive bowling from the Giants, losing Jonny Bairstow to LBW to Mark Adair for a duck and Tom Banton to Azmatullah Omarzai, leaving the team at 2/2 inside two overs. Nicholas Pooran and Muhammad Waseem then took control, forging an unbeaten 140-run partnership in just 89 balls to guide MI Emirates home with 21 balls to spare.
Waseem carried his bat through the innings, scoring 59 runs off 42 balls, including three sixes and three fours, while Pooran contributed a scintillating unbeaten 69 from 49 deliveries, smashing six sixes and three fours.
Their partnership not only steadied the innings but also accelerated the chase after the 10th over, with Pooran reaching his half-century in 43 balls and Waseem following suit in 38 balls, his first of the season.
