DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Former Test captain Jason Holder made an impact with a three-wicket haul as Dubai Capitals made a winning start to the ILT20 with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Nicholas Pooran’s MI Emirates.
The 32-year-old Holder, who opted out of West Indies’ ongoing Test tour of Australia, picked up three for 36 to help restrict MI Emirates to 159 for nine from their 20 overs here Saturday.
Pooran, fresh from his outing in the SA20 in South Africa, made 21 from 23 balls while West Indies teammate Andre Fletcher struck an 18-ball 30 with three fours and two sixes.
Opener Muhammad Waseem top-scored with 51 from 26 deliveries, lashing a brace of fours and four sixes in a crucial 72-run, second wicket stand with Fletcher.
Pooran, veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo (2) and tail-ender Akeal Hosein (7) were among the casualties as Emirates lost seven wickets for 55 runs, to collapse at the back end.
In reply, Afghan Rahmanullah Gurbaz (81) and Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk (54) blasted half-centuries as Capitals sped to their target with four overs to spare.
Rahmanullah, a 22-year-old right-hander, punched eight fours and four sixes off 39 deliveries to inspire a second wicket stand of 114 with 21-year-old Fraser-McGurk, who belted four fours and four sixes in a 25-ball knock.
When both perished in the space of 11 balls, West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell (seven not out) and Sam Billings (13 not out) saw Capitals safely to their target.
Both Bravo and left-arm spinner Hosein went wicket-less.
