ILT20: Capitals Ride On Powell's Masterclass Against Spinners For First Win

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

West Indies star Rovman Powell was delighted after setting up Dubai Capitals' emphatic 83-run win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

Powell was unstoppable with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 96 off 52 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes) to help the Capitals post 186 for four in 20 overs.

Recommended For You Bridge Summit, Abu Dhabi: Arab actresses call for more women writers to reshape roles

In reply, the Knight Riders were bowled out for 103 in just 15.3 overs with Afghan left-arm spinner taking four wickets.

Earlier, it was Powell's brilliance as the rival team's two best spinners - Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla - which put the Capitals in a strong position.

“They have two high quality spinners in Narine and Chawla. It was important when I went to bat that I fought them off and just not bat a lot of dot balls. Once I did that, batting against the fast bowlers came naturally," said Powell.

The West Indian also shared a superb 119-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Jordan Cox (52 off 36 balls).

"Cox was very, very helpful. We just didn't want to get stagnant in the middle. We didn't want Narine or Chawla to keep bowling at one player and that was the best way to bat against two world-class spinners like them,” he said.

It was the defending champions' first win of the campaign, having lost their first two matches.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain Jason Holder admitted that Powell's partnership with Cox was decisive.

“We've got a bit to learn from this game. We didn't play our best cricket today. We were a little bit untidy in our bowling phases, conceded too many big overs, and in batting, we never really got the partnerships going," Holder said.

"I thought Rovman Powell and Jordan Cox put together a really good partnership, which took the game away from us.

Brief scores:

Dubai Capitals beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 83 runs

Dubai Capitals 186/4 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 96 not out, Jordan Cox 52, Jason Holder 2 for 30, Piyush Chawla 1 for 23)

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 103/10 in 15.3 overs (Phil Salt 27, Waqar Salamkheil 4 for 29, David Willey 2 for 13, Mohammed Nabi 2 for 12)

Player of the match: Rovman Powell

MENAFN08122025000049011007ID1110453936