ILT20: MI Emirates storm into play-offs with 30-run triumph over Desert Vipers

Abu Dhabi [UAE], February 5 (ANI): MI Emirates continued to reign supreme in the International League T20 (ILT20) season two, registering a resounding 30-run victory against the Desert Vipers at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to become the first team to secure the berth in the play-offs on Sunday.
Completing their sixth victory in eight matches, the MI Emirates asserted themselves with a first-innings score of 188/5 buoyed by an elegant knock of 65 runs from Kusal Perera and a late innings assault from Nicholas Pooran (39). Ambati Rayudu also produced impeccable value for this team with a hard-fought stint that earned 44 runs.
The Desert Vipers run-chase never found momentum, encumbered by the clinical bowling of the MI Emirates, they lost wickets at frequent intervals, including five in the powerplay. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the Emirates' bowling attack with impressive figures of 4/31. His four overs scripted the dismissals of Colin Munro, Adam Hose, Azam Khan and Luke Wood to limit the Desert Vipers to 158/8 in 20 overs.
Invited to bat first, MI Emirates began with a lucrative powerplay despite the loss of two wickets. Kusal Perera made his intent crystal clear, scoring 31 off just 18 deliveries in the first six overs. While Muhammad Waseem and Andre Fletcher both departed with minimal impact, scalped by Mohd Amir and Nathan Sowter respectively, to leave the MI Emirates at 61/2 by the end of the powerplay.
As Ambati Rayudu joined Kusal Perera, the duo constructed a formidable stand of 75 runs. Serving as the aggressor in the partnership Perera brought up his half century in just 31 deliveries. In the 16th over, Perera was caught at deep mid-wicket off Wanindu Hasaranga's delivery for 65 in 46 balls, with eight fours and a six. The same over saw Nicholas Pooran stamp his authority from the very first ball, striking Hasaranga for two consecutive sixes to begin his innings.
Meanwhile Rayudu endeavoured to break the shackles, but the big hits eluded him. He departed for 44 runs in 38 balls, with five fours and a six at the hands of Mohammed Amir in the 18th over.
Luke Wood, tasked with bowling the 19th over was bested by Nicholas Pooran, who hammered two sixes and two fours to complete a 22-run over. Pooran's exploits were finally halted when a lethal yorker from Matheesha Pathirana broke his middle stump in the final over the innings that only conceded 3 runs. Pooran was out for 39 in 15 balls, with three fours and four sixes. The MI Emirates, however, managed a strong finish to conclude the innings at 188/5 in 20 overs.
In response the Desert Vipers had a tempestuous start, losing four wickets in the powerplay. Rohan Mustafa fell to spinner Akeal Hosein, as early as the first over while Alex Hales was dismissed by Trent Boult in the fourth over. The Desert Vipers conundrum compounded when Fazalhaq Farooqi was brought into action to dismiss Adam Hose and Colin Munro. All of these batters fell for single-digit scores.
The in-form Azam Khan looked dangerous as he blitzed his way to 19 runs in just 10 deliveries, including three fours and a six, but he also fell to Fazalhaq Farooqi in the sixth over, to leave the Desert Vipers languishing at 38/5 by the end of the powerplay.
The Desert Vipers continued to spiral out of control as Wanindu Hasaranga was the next man to depart, falling to Waqar Salamkheil for just nine runs in the seventh over. UAE's Ali Naseer and Sherfane Rutherford worked to salvage a respectable outcome as the pair combined to put on 38 runs before Rutherford was dismissed by Odean Smith in the 12th over with the score at 82/7.
As Luke Wood joined Ali Naseer, the Desert Vipers needed a steep 107 runs in 48 deliveries. While the Viper ultimately fell short of the target by 30 runs, Ali Naseer (63* in 47 balls, with five fours and two sixes) put on an exceptional display reaching his half-century in 42 balls and Luke Wood chipped in with 30 runs before, he was Farooqi's fourth scalp of the night in the 20th over. The Desert Vipers finished at 158/8.
Brief Scores: MI Emirates beat Desert Vipers by 30 runs.
MI Emirates: 188 for 5 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 65, Ambati Rayudu 44, Mohammed Amir 2/29); Desert Vipers: 158 for 8 in 20 overs (Ali Naseer 63*, Luke Wood 30 Fazalhaq Farooqi 4/31)
Player of the Match: Nicholas Pooran. (ANI)