Giants Fight Till the End but Fall Short Against Knight Riders

The Gulf Giants showed strong intent and resilience in their DP World ILT20 clash at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on December 18, but narrowly missed out as the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders clinched a four-wicket victory in the final over.

Gurbaz Leads the Charge with the Bat

After the Knight Riders won the toss and opted to field, the Giants set out to post a competitive total. Rahmanullah Gurbaz stood tall with a commanding innings, top-scoring with a fluent 72 off 45 balls, laced with four boundaries and five towering sixes. His knock provided momentum and stability through the middle overs.

Support came from across the batting unit, allowing the Giants to build steadily and finish with a fighting 165 for 7 at the end of their 20 overs.

Shamsi’s Magic Keeps Giants in the Hunt but Knight Riders Hold Nerve in Tight Finish

Defending the total, the Giants stayed in the contest through disciplined bowling spells. Tabraiz Shamsi was the standout, weaving his magic to claim 3 for 23, applying pressure and breaking partnerships at crucial moments. The bowlers worked in unison to keep the chase competitive until the very end.

In reply, the Knight Riders were given a solid platform by Phil Salt (35 off 24) and Alex Hales (46 off 39). Despite regular breakthroughs, late contributions from Sherfane Rutherford (30 off 22) and a calm finish from Andre Russell (21off 13)* guided the Knight Riders home with four balls to spare.

Giants Eye a Strong Comeback

While the result didn’t go their way, the Giants displayed fight, character, and belief throughout the contest. With positives to take from both departments, the focus now turns to regrouping and coming back stronger in the matches ahead. 🧡