SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, CMC – West Indies white-ball star Johnson Charles blasted a half-century but Sharjah Warriors stumbled in their run chase, allowing Gulf Giants to clinch a 31-run victory in the opening game of the International League T20 (ILT20) here yesterday.
In pursuit of 199 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Warriors could only muster 167 for seven off their 20 overs, with the 35-year-old Charles top-scoring with 57 off 38 deliveries.
New Zealander Martin Guptill supported with 40 from 30 deliveries, the pair putting on 93 for the first wicket which appeared to put Warriors in command of the game.
However, once Guptill holed out to third man off seamer Jamie Overton (3-29) in the 11th over and Charles followed in the bowler’s next over, picking out deep mid-wicket, the chase imploded.
Barbados-born England seamer Chris Jordan finished with two for 35 from his four overs while West Indies left-arm seamer Dominic Drakes ended with one for nine from two overs.
Sent in earlier, Giants survived Shimron Hetmyer’s first-ball ‘duck’ to gather 198 for seven from their 20 overs, captain James Vince hitting 45, opening partner Jamie Smith getting 42 and Jordan Cox and Usman Khan both scoring 32.
Vince belted three fours and two sixes in a 35-ball knock, posting 61 for the first wicket with Smith and a further 53 for the second with Cox, before perishing in the 12th over.
Hetmyer was then hit plumb in front first ball by Sri Lanka off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana (4-15), as Giants lost two wickets without adding to the score at 114.
Usman rallied the lower order, however, lashing four fours and a six in an 18-ball cameo.