ABU DHABI: UAE fast bowler Sanchit Sharma lit up the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi with a blockbuster performance as the Gulf Giants defeated Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by six wickets in the third match of the DP World International League T20 on Sunday afternoon. Sharma picked up excellent figures of 3 for nine and helped the Giants restrict the Knight Riders to 114 for nine. Thereafter, the Gulf Giants captain James Vince led from the front with 65 runs from 44 balls as his team raced to their target in 14.1 overs.
The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders couldn’t get their innings going right from the onset. Sanchit Sharma bowled out Colin Ingram for 7 runs off 10 balls in the fourth over and he picked up two wickets in successive deliveries dismissing Brandon King and Connor Esterhuizen.
Andre Russell tried to take centre stage with a couple of boundaries and sixes, however, his innings was short lived as he was bowled out by Chris Jordan for 26 runs from 12 balls leaving the Knight Riders at 66 for 6 in the 12th over.
Even though the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders had a relatively low total on the board, Ravi Rampaul kept his team’s hopes alive by getting an early wicket. He dismissed Rehan Ahmed for 7 runs from 9 balls in the third over. But all those hopes were shattered when captain James Vince smashed Rampaul for two fours and a six in the fifth over, taking the Giants to 40 for 1. Thereafter, Ollie Pope also upped the ante as he struck Matiullah Khan for two boundaries in the sixth over. Vince continued to showcase top and brought up his half century following consecutive sixes off Akeal Hosein in the ninth over.
Shimron Hetmyer smashed a maximum off Akeal Hosein as the Giants wrapped up their chase in just 14.1 overs.
Gulf Giants’ fast bowler Sanchit Sharma expressed, “I am very happy with my performance. This is a dream start for me.
Both the teams scores summary is as under; Gulf Giants bt Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by six wickets. Gulf Giants 115 for four in 14.1 overs (James Vince 65, Sunil Narine 2 for 21) Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 114 for 9 in 20 overs (Andre Russell 26, Paul Stirling 20, Sanchit Sharma 3 for 9, Chris Jordan 3 for 28.
Sanchit Sharma was awarded the Player of Match with prize if $1500.
