Holder, Narine help steer Knight Riders into ILT20 qualifier two

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates:

The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders' spin duo of Sunil Narine and Liam Livingstone, along with captain Jason Holder orchestrated a comprehensive 50-run victory over the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 Eliminator here on Thursday at the Dubai International Stadium, setting up a high-stakes clash with MI Emirates for a spot in the final.

Choosing to bat, the Knight Riders were turbocharged by opener Michael Pepper, who smashed a scintillating 72 from just 49 balls.

The steady Phil Salt scored 43 off 34 balls as the pair found the right seasoning in a dominant 122-run partnership off 81 deliveries.

But the dismissal of Salt - in the 14th over with the score at 122 - triggered a spectacular collapse of seven wickets for just 36 runs. Mohammad Nabi, with 3-25, led the fightback, with Pepper's run-out adding to the chaos.

A late cameo from skipper Holder, who scored 22 not out off 11, provided crucial impetus, lifting his side to a competitive 158-7.

In reply, the Capitals' chase never found momentum. Narine struck early blows, removing key batters and setting the tone with his trademark control.

The pressure mounted as Livingstone and Holder joined the party, the trio sharing nine wickets between them, with each claiming three scalps.

The Capitals' innings crumbled from 43-4 to 64-6 at the halfway mark, as they lost wickets in a cluster as runs dried up completely.

Despite a brief resistance from captain Nabi, who stroked 27, Holder delivered the final blows in the 16th over, bundling the Capitals out for 108.

With this emphatic victory, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders live to fight another day. They now face the MI Emirates in Qualifier 2 on Friday, with the winner earning the right to challenge the Desert Vipers in the final on Sunday. - CMC