Shimron Hetmyer hit a last-ball six to help Gulf Giants beat MI Emirates by five wickets in the 24th match of the DP World ILT20 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium here, ensuring their place in the playoffs.
Chris Jordan's three-wicket spell, backed up by Dominic Drakes, David Wiese, and Rehan Ahmed with two wickets apiece, helped Gulf Giants bowl out the MI Emirates for 139 runs in 19.5 overs.
However, things were not so simple for Gulf Giants, as MI Emirates' bowlers put on a spectacular performance to almost win the match.
Despite the loss, the MI Emirates remain third in the ILT20 points table and will look to win their final two games in order to qualify for the playoffs. MI Emirates is in third place, two points ahead of Dubai Capital and Sharjah Warriors, but the final two spots in the knockout round will be decided in an exciting three-way shootout.
In pursuit of the modest total, Gulf Giants opener Tom Banton hit 45 off 39 balls with five boundaries and six, bringing the team closer to the goal. With 11 runs needed off the final over, Shimron Hetmyer hit the final ball of the match for a six, ensuring a thrilling five-wicket victory on Wednesday night.
Jordan (3 for 12), Dominic Drakes (2 for 21), David Wiese (2 for 14), and Rehan Ahmed (2 for 27) laid the groundwork for victory. The Gulf Giants batsmen batted cautiously, and MI Emirates bowled tightly, giving nothing away until the thrilling final over.
The Gulf Giants won the coin toss and chose to bowl. MI Andre Fletcher of the Emirates was caught leg before by Dominic Drakes on the second ball of the first over. Basil Hameed of the UAE joined his national team, as did prolific scorer Muhammad Waseem. They increased the score to 27 in 3.4 overs when Hameed attempted a pull shot. Chris Lynn caught David Wiese at short fine leg for 9 after he edged to his helmet.
Nicholas Pooran, known for his sixes, hit the match's first six off Rehan Ahmed over long-on. Waseem hit one six and Pooran hit two sixes off Ahmed's ninth over, resulting in 21 runs off that over. Waseem hit Wiese for a huge six over long-on in the tenth over. MI Emirates were 76 for 2 at the half. Chris Jordan struck in the 12th over to dismiss Waseem for 29. Pooran and Waseem had put on 61 runs for the third wicket in 46 balls.
In the 13th over, Rehan Ahmed took the prize wicket of Pooran, forcing him to pull into the hands of Shimron Hetmyer at deep mid-wicket for 42. The task of increasing the run rate fell to skipper Kieron Pollard and Najibullah Zadran, but Pollard was dismissed for 19 after pulling Rehan Ahmed to Drakes at mid-wicket.
MI Emirates continued to lose wickets in every over after half the side was back in the dugout for 112 by the 15th over. Zadran went for a pull top-edged to wicketkeeper Tom Banton off Jordan in the 16th over for 1. Jordan Thompson then fell to Drakes in the next over, caught by Chris Lynn at gully for one.
In pursuit of a manageable target, opener and skipper James Vince and Tom Banton batted slowly and cautiously. They scored 35 runs in the powerplay and went on to post a half-century partnership in 7.4 overs. Vince was out for 26 on the last ball of the ninth over to Jordan Thompson, who was caught by Bravo at long off.
Chris Lynn replaced Banton with 79 runs to be scored in 66 balls. Banton went on to score freely and hit 45 before being caught by Waseem at deep mid-wicket by Bravo. Gerhard Erasmus and Lynn kept the scoreboard ticking over. Lynn hit Thompson for three consecutive boundaries in the 14th over, scoring 17 runs.
Gulf Giants only needed 38 runs in the final five overs. Lynn and Erasmus put on 42 runs in 4.5 overs to bring their team closer to victory before Erasmus was caught off Fazalhaq Farooqi by Bravo for 20. Lynn was caught by Waseem at deep extra cover for 28 runs when the Gulf Giants needed 17 runs in the last 11 deliveries. David Wiese slashed at Bravo in order to establish a boundary. Bravo got Jordan out while attempting to steal a single, bringing the total to 11 runs needed off the final over.
Jordan Thompson bowled the final over, giving two runs on the second delivery, a single on the third, and making it seven runs off the last four balls, then six runs off the last three through a single. Another wide made it four runs in two balls, and a single in the next made it three runs in the last ball. Hetmyer hit the final ball for a mighty six over long-on to secure a thrilling victory.
Brief scores:
MI Emirates 139 all out in 19.5 overs (Muhammad Waseem 29, Nicholas Pooran 42; Chris Jordan 3-12, Dominic Drakes 2-21, David Wiese 2-14, Rehan Ahmed 2-27) lost to Gulf Giants 143/5 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 45, James Vince 26, Chris Lynn 28, Gerhard Erasmus 20, Dwayne Bravo 2-32) by 5 wickets.