The International League T20 (ILT20) is ongoing and one could understand that the viewership for the tournament is soaring already and this comes on the back of stupendous display from all of the players involved. On January 24, Tuesday, Desert Vipers squared off against MI Emirates and it was the latter who won the game chasing a target of 170 with 7 wickets to spare.
While there were many moments to take away from the game, Nicholas Pooran’s wicket off Tom Curran in the penultimate ball of the first innings turned out to be the most eye-catching one of all. To add more, the English pacer ripped the batter off with a fiery yorker leaving the West Indies southpaw on his knees as he lost his balance trying to flick it down the leg side.
It was Kieron Pollard and Pooran’s partnership that helped the Emirates put on a massive total on the board. To add more, while the southpaw gathered 57 runs to his name off 49 balls, Pollard, on the other hand, amassed 67 runs off just 39 balls and put the team on the front foot early on in the day thrashing the Vipers’ bowlers.
Watch Tom Curran’s stupendous yorker to Nicholas Pooran in Match 15 of ILT20 here:
Nicholas Pooran was clueless against Tom Curran. pic.twitter.com/5jTgE5Lrgi
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 24, 2023
Didn't get off to a great start: Kieron Pollard
Despite putting on a mammoth total on the board, the Emirates lost the game on the back of a stunning chase from the Vipers batters. As far as the chase is concerned, it was Alex Hales once again who stood up for the team with his 44-ball 62 backed by 22-ball 41 from New Zealand star cricketer Colin Munro, eventually chasing the target within 17 overs.
“Didn't get off to a great start. Were a bit slow and then we had to build. Left some runs out there. I'm feeling relaxed and enjoying out there. Have had the opportunity to play a lot of cricket around the world, gain experience and knowledge. Age is just a number,” the Emirates skipper Pollard was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation.
“Maybe I overran it a bit, then made it to look spectacular on TV (his catch). Lot of skillful guys in the dressing room. Last couple of games we have let ourselves down with the ball. Have an opportunity in a couple of days to right the wrongs,” he added.