Tom Alsop’s unbeaten 85 led Gulf Giants to a 6-wicket win over Sharjah Warriors in ILT20. Giants chased 171, with Curran’s support. Roy top-scored for Warriors with 44.
The Gulf Giants defeated the Sharjah Warriors in a closely contested match in the International League T20 (ILT20). The Giants chased down a target of 171 with six wickets to spare, thanks to a brilliant unbeaten knock by opener Tom Alsop.
The Sharjah Warriors batted first and posted a total of 171 for 6. Jason Roy was the top scorer for the Warriors, with 44 runs off 30 balls. Tom Kohler-Cadmore also contributed with 29 runs, while Johnson Charles made 30. However, apart from a late cameo by Ashton Agar (23 not out), the rest of the batting lineup failed to make significant contributions. Blessing Muzarabani was the standout bowler for the Giants, taking 3 wickets for 32 runs. Daniel Worrall, Mark Adair, and Dominic Drakes also took one wicket each.
In response, the Giants got off to a brisk start, with James Vince (24 off 14) and Tom Alsop putting on a 42-run opening partnership. However, the middle order struggled to maintain momentum, with Jordan Cox (8), Gerhard Erasmus (10), and Shimron Hetmyer (12) falling cheaply. Adam Zampa, Tim Southee and Dilshan Madushanka took a wicket each. Despite these setbacks, Alsop held one end and found strong support in Tom Curran, with whom he shared a match-winning unbeaten 65-run partnership. Alsop finished with an unbeaten 85 runs off 60 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes, and Curran supported him with 26 not out off 17 balls. The Giants reached the target in 19.3 overs, winning by six wickets.
The match was a tense affair, with the Giants needing 58 runs in the last five overs. However, Alsop’s big hits at the end guided them to victory. The presence of dew on the outfield also played a factor. Despite the win, Gulf Giants remain fifth in the six-team table, while the Sharjah Warriors are at the bottom.
The other game on the same day saw Dubai Capitals defeat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. The Capitals successfully chased a target of 204 runs, securing a win by eight wickets. Shai Hope (74 not out) and Gulbadin Naib (80) were the key contributors for the Capitals. Charith Asalanka had earlier scored 74 off 38 for the Knight Riders. Dubai Capitals are currently second, and Knight Riders are in fourth position in the league standings.
Sources: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ilt20-tom-alsop-guides-gulf-giants-to-six-wicket-win-over-sharjah-warriorz/articleshow/117587589.cms
https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/cy4m0j8we7po
https://m.cricbuzz.com/live-cricket-scores/111225/sw-vs-gg-21st-match-ilt20