Shayan Jahangir’s calm under pressure and a collective display of composure with the ball helped the Dubai Capitals edge past the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by nine runs in a gripping DP World ILT20 contest at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Put in to bat, the Capitals were rocked early and reduced to 4/2 inside the powerplay. Ajay Kumar dismissed Leus du Plooy before Jason Holder induced a loose stroke from Toby Albert, brilliantly caught by Andre Russell. With the innings in danger of unravelling, Jahangir dug in.
“I was under pressure early, and it wasn’t the easiest start,” Jahangir later reflected, but what followed was an innings of growing authority and maturity.
Alongside Jordan Cox, Jahangir rebuilt patiently, guiding the Capitals to 32/2 at the end of the powerplay. As the field spread, Jahangir began to assert himself through the middle overs, bringing up his half-century with a towering sixth six, his fourth of the innings, off George Garton in the ninth over.
The 115-run partnership between Jahangir and Cox (29 off 30) proved decisive, rescuing the Capitals from a precarious position and swinging momentum firmly their way. Holder eventually broke the stand in the 14th over, trapping Cox LBW, but by then the damage had been done.
Jahangir continued to lead from the front, finding an able partner in Rovman Powell. The pair added 66 runs off just 36 balls, with Powell providing the late flourish. Twenty runs came off Ibrar Ahmad in the 18th over, followed by two sixes off Holder in the 19th, pushing the Capitals towards a formidable total.
Jahangir’s innings ended in heartbreak when he was bowled by Russell for 99, just one run shy of a century. Still, his knock of 10 fours and five sixes powered the Capitals to 196/5, the highest score by an associate player in DP World ILT20 history.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the win. Back-to-back victories are important for team morale. I’m proud to represent the USA, where cricket is making strong progress, and performances like these help bring recognition to the game there.
Chasing 197, the Knight Riders struggled to gain control despite a brisk start from Phil Salt. Alex Hales briefly added impetus, but regular wickets kept ADKR in check. By the end of the powerplay, they had slipped to 49/3, with David Willey and sharp fielding applying consistent pressure.
Salt and Brandon McMullen attempted to steady the chase, but Waqar Salamkheil struck at key moments, while Mohammad Nabi removed Sunil Narine to tighten the screws further. Alishan Sharafu’s counter-attack offered brief hope, but wickets continued to fall.
Andre Russell then produced a familiar late surge, blasting an unbeaten 53 off 33 balls and, alongside Jason Holder, adding 46 runs in just 20 deliveries to revive belief. With dew settling in, the finish grew tense.
We had runs on the board, but with the dew around, you never know against such power-hitters. That’s where having Nabi and experienced bowlers made my job easier.
Mustafizur Rahman broke the crucial stand at the right moment, and Muhammad Jawadullah showed nerves of steel in the final over, successfully defending 26 runs to seal the Capitals’ second win of the season.
He didn’t have the best powerplay, but he showed real character to go on and make 99. Hopefully, he’ll build on this in the matches to come.
In the end, Jahangir’s near-century proved the difference—a knock that combined resilience, power and timing, and one that underlined the Dubai Capitals’ growing confidence as the tournament gathers momentum.
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