MI Emirates bolster qualification bid with top-of-the-table win

On a sluggish Dubai pitch, MI Emirates scraped their way to a four-wicket victory over table-toppers and already-qualified Desert Vipers, to strengthen their own bid to the knockouts.

A strong bowling performance, led by Shakib Al Hasan (2-14) and Zahoor Khan (2-17), allowed the Emirates to restrict 124/7. Their batters, however, then struggled in chase before three middle-order stands took them past the finish line. With this win, MI Emirates are second with 10 points from eight games - two ahead of the third-placed Dubai Capitals.

In the midst of a watchful start, Vipers lost Max Holden inside the PowerPlay. On the other side of it, they lost their way further as they were reduced to 52/4 at the halfway stage. Jason Roy then joined forces with Dan Lawrence for a 41-run partnership for the fifth wicket - the best of the innings. They dragged the team closer to the 100-run mark at the start of the death overs but couldn't quite capitalise late on it. Roy fell and Tom Bruce put on 24 runs with Lawrence, pushing the team to 124/7.

In chase, Emirates lost Jonny Bairstow and Muhammad Waseem in the PowerPlay and then had Tom Banton and Nicolas Pooran back in the dugout by the eighth over, with only 53 runs on the board. Sanjay Krishnamurthi and Shakib then fought back, with a defiant five-over partnership worth 26 runs. When that was broken with the wicket of Shakib, Kieron Pollard walked in with his team needing 46 from 43.

Pollard smashed 26 of those in 15 balls, with two fours and two sixes. When he got out, the equation was dwarfed to 13 off 24. Shakib batted on and ensured his team got those runs with more than two overs to spare.

Brief Scores: Desert Vipers 124/7 in 20 overs (Dan Lawrence 35*; Shakib Al Hasan 2-14, Zahoor Khan 2-17) lost to MI Emirates 128/6 in 17.3 overs (Kieron Pollard 26; Matiullah Khan 2-18, Dan Lawrence 1-13) by 4 wickets.