MI Emirates' run in the International League T20 2025 came to a disappointing end on Thursday night as they faced off against Sharjah Warriorz at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The match, part of the highly competitive eliminator round, saw MI Emirates bow out of the tournament after falling short against the Warriorz, who chased down the target of 147 runs with six wickets to spare.
The Emirates’ batting lineup got off to a rocky start with opener Andre Fletcher dismissed on just the third ball of the innings, caught without scoring by Sharjah captain Tim Southee off the bowling of Adam Milne. This set the tone for MI's innings, which faced immediate pressure.
Will Jacks and Tom Banton tried to steady the ship with a 34-run partnership, but Jacks' wicket proved to be pivotal. The English opener, who cost MI 5.25 crore at the IPL mega auction, was bowled out by Ashton Agar, contributing just 18 runs off 17 balls. MI Emirates captain Nicholas Pooran came to the crease next and played aggressively, scoring 42 runs off only 22 deliveries.
Despite Pooran's efforts, MI struggled to maintain momentum and lost wickets regularly, finishing with 146 runs, just four short of the 150-mark they had hoped for.
Tim Seifert, player of the match, was instrumental for Sharjah Warriorz, contributing 40 runs off just 20 balls, helping steer his team to victory. He attributed the success to their solid bowling performance and maintained his focus during clutch moments of the match. "Always nice to get to winning position," Seifert said about his team’s efforts. "Our bowlers have been superb all tournament, the way they use the new ball has been outstanding."
The chase started briskly for the Warriorz, with openers Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Johnson Charles providing quick runs at the start. While Charles later fell, Kohler-Cadmore's solid 40 runs laid the foundation for the team. Jason Roy chipped in with 26 runs, but it was the collective performance and Seifert's explosive batting late in the innings, alongside Rohan Mustafa, which secured the win.
After the game, Nicholas Pooran reflected on their performance, expressing disappointment at the team's inconsistency. “We get what we deserve, we haven't been consistent. Looking forward to the next year,” Pooran stated, highlighting the need for improvement as they assess their strategies going forward.
Even though MI Emirates put up a fight with strong individual performances, such as those from Pooran and Banton, their inability to post a competitive total became their downfall. The match was tension-filled, especially as Sharjah Warriorz had their own struggles mid-innings, which at one point had them scrambling to maintain the chase’s rate.
Tim Southee, Sharjah's captain, noted, "It ebbed and flowed throughout. We stuck at it with the ball and nice to get across the line." His comments capture the essence of the match’s swinging momentum, making it clear how pivotal each delivery was.
The victorious Sharjah team will now prepare to face the Desert Vipers for the next stage of the tournament, aiming to secure their spot in the finals against the Dubai Capitals. For MI Emirates, the result serves as a stark reminder of the need for robustness and consistency to make their mark next season.