Cox, Jahangir help Capitals seal playoffs berth

Fifties by Jordan Cox (61*) and Shayan Jahangir (51) guided the Dubai Capitals to the ILT20 playoffs after beating Sharjah Warriorz in a low-scoring game. Three teams have now booked their place in ILT20 knockouts with Gulf Giants, Sharjah Warriorz and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders now vying for the final spot.

Having been sent in to bat, Warriorz had a fruitful start to the PowerPlay with their openers Johnson Charles and Monank Patel capitalizing on the new ball with some early boundaries. But the latter was run-out after a quick 24 courtesy of a direct-hit by David Willey. Capitals turned to spin in the fifth over on a slow track, and the runs began to dry up for Warriorz. Haider Ali castled Tom Abell and followed it up with the stumping of Tom Kohler-Cadmore in his next over. He bowled his four overs continuously and ended with figures of 4-0-13-2 but should have had a third after the 'keeper dropped a catch off Sikandar Raza.

Through all the carnage, Charles kept the strike ticking over before smashing Mohammad Nabi for a six and a four with the latter coming off a switch-hit. But, things continued to go pear-shaped for Warriorz. Raza offered a simple return catch to Mustafizur Rahman while the set-batter Charles holed out to long-on off Waqar Salamkheil. He bowled Ethan D'Souza in the same over while James Rew drove one straight to short cover as the wickets continued to tumble. Harmeet Singh and Adil Rashid then found boundaries and sixes in the last two overs to take Warriorz to 134 for 8, with 33 runs coming off the last three overs.

Warriorz started with spin immediately through Raza and brought on Harmeet in the third over, who struck with the wicket of Sediqullah Atal. Warriorz's pacers too mixed the slower balls well, keeping the batters at bay. Harmeet could have had Cox and Jahangir in his second over with the former almost chipping one to short cover while the American was dropped by Tom Kohler-Cadmore at long-off. With the runs not coming of the spinners, Cox hit Wasim Akram over long-off for six. Jahangir then hit three fours off Taskin Ahmed in the 11th over to capitalise on the pace bowlers. A six followed off Tim Southee's over before he brought up his 50.

Against the run of play, Raza picked up Jahangir and Nabi in the same over to bring Warriorz back into the contest. 38 needed off the last five overs became 26 required off 18, before Leus du Plooy chopped on off Taskin but Cox found a crucial boundary in that over. With 21 required off the last two overs, Cox hit four consecutive boundaries off Southee in an 18-run 19th over before Rovman Powell sealed the win in style with a six.

Brief Scores: Sharjah Warriorz 134/8 in 20 overs (Johnson Charles 43, Monank Patel 24; Haider Ali 2-13, Waqar Salamkheil 2-29) lost to Dubai Capitals 138/4 in 19.1 overs (Jordan Cox 61*, Shayan Jahangir 51; Sikandar Raza 2-15) by six wickets