KnightRiders vs Warriorz, 6th Match at Abu Dhabi, ILT20, Jan 15 2025 - Match Result

That's all from us today. I'm signing off on behalf of Raghav and myself, Rashad. Good night.

Player of the Match David Willey: "I'm trying to take wickets, early wickets, particularly in this competition, where the ball does a bit early. It's really important. So yeah trying to swing the ball back and take wickets. (Against Jason Roy) Yeah. Me and Jase (Roy) have got a bit of history over the years but actually, it's probably the worst ball I have bowled, and Jace fortunately, hit it straight to cover. (Bowling approach with the new and old ball) Look I think generally the scoreboard dictates what's required. So I like to think if I do come back or am required to come back (in the middle overs), I read the game pretty well. Then I just try and deliver what's required. (Swing factor) Yeah, I've never been quick (laughter). Look I'll try and I'll swing the ball. I've made a career out of swinging the ball. And you know, I've never never been a quick bowler. But like to think, to try and stay one ahead one step ahead of the batter and, find a way to compete and take wickets."

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Captain Sunil Narine: "I think generally here batting second is tough when the lights just kicking in and it's tough batting in the first six overs, but I think we did a good job in the Power Play. Not lose too many wickets and I think we had key partnerships in the middle of the innings to carry us on to make the 160. (Laurie Evans) I think he built a partnership and he batted deep. If you have a guy who bats about the last three to four overs, they'll help you put up a good total. (Bowling approach) No, I think the seamers were doing a fantastic job and I think they were picking up the wickets, especially in the Power Play. So to see how many wickets they could get before the ball gets a little old and it worked out good for us. So I think they will hit the right lengths."

Sharjah Warriorz Captain Tim Southee: "It's always a tricky one (to chase). It probably looked like a little too many on that surface and then I think just chasing the target (160 runs) like that you need a couple of partnerships. So early stages of the tournament. So yeah, we'll dust ourselves off and we'll go again in a couple days. (70 dot balls) Yeah, ideally you'd like that (dot balls) to be a lot lower than 70. It shows you the boundaries in between, but if we can, obviously, rotate the strike a bit more and minimize those dots down a fair way then I think you get a lot closer in games like this. (Batting approach) I think there's probably a point that needs to be talked about is the amount of dot balls. So if you minimize that, and build a couple of partnerships, then things will be different. But we know in this game that it can change pretty quickly. So we've got a day off tomorrow and then we go again on the next day. So we're looking forward to that."

The Sharjah Warriorz had a disastrous second innings. They never looked to chase the 160-run score. Warriorz lost two wickets early in the innings and were in serious danger. They lost wickets in clusters and failed to rotate the strike due to a lack of shot selection and giving away wickets. Dot balls were stacking up, and the Warriorz couldn't handle it--70 of them. Southee was their leading scorer, with 24 runs off 11 balls, which explains the remainder of the batters' performance today. The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders bowling team performed admirably on the pitch today. Holder picked up four wickets, Willey three, and Mayers two. The fielders for the Knight Riders had a busy day, particularly around the boundary ropes. Evans and Pepper each secured three catches. Their fielding was very impressive. The Knight Riders' victory today puts them in third place in the points standings and opens their point total.

NKR Jr.: "Can we count those 2 sixes as part of Southee's Test match tally? That way he would make it to an even hundred!"

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders won the match by 30 runs

33 runs needed from the last 6 balls, here's Mayers

Around the wicket

Phani: "The only other innings that was as absurd as this Rajapaksa innings could be that of Yuvraj's in that T20 final.Absolute bo intent to even take a single, forget hitting boundaries."