DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,CMC – Rovman Powell made a bright start to life as captain of Dubai Capitals, producing a Man-of-the-Match all-round performance to help power his side to a dominant 73-run victory over Andre Russell’s star-studded Abu Dhabi Knight Riders here yesterday.
Playing in the curtain-raiser of the inaugural International League T20 at Dubai International Stadium, Powell stroked a top score of 48 from 29 deliveries as his Capitals reached 187 for six off 20 overs.
India’s Robin Uthappa struck 43 from 33 balls while Englishman Joe Root and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza chimed in with 26, former West Indies seamer Ravi Rampaul spearheading Knight Riders’ attack with two for 36 from his four overs.
Knight Riders then collapsed to 114 for nine off their 20 overs in reply, Ireland’s Paul Stirling the only one showing mettle with 54 from 38 deliveries at the top of the order, to be only one of two batsmen to reach double figures.
Powell was once again superb, grabbing two for 15 from two overs of medium pace to help hurt the Knight Riders run chase.
Russell flopped with a run-a-ball 12, leading a string of failures for West Indies players as Brandon King (8), Sunil Narine (4), Akeal Hosein (3) and Rampaul (6) all struggled with the bat.
Afghan 21-year-old off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman proved excellent with two for 16 from four overs while the UAE’s Akif Raja supported with two for 20 from his two overs.
Sent in earlier, Capitals were initially carried by opener Uthappa who stitched together successive partnerships of 35 with Root, 23 with Bhanuka Rajapaksa (9) and 26 with Powell.
He eventually perished at the end of the 12th over at 84 for three after striking three fours and two sixes but Powell then assumed responsibility for the innings in a 51-run, fourth wicket partnership with Raza.
The right-handed Powell struck three fours and three sixes while Raza counted a four and two sixes in a 17-ball cameo.
Knight Riders then suffered an early setback in their chase when Colin Ingram fell in the first over for one with two runs on the board, but Stirling hit five fours and two sixes in a 29-run, second wicket stand with King and then in a 40-run, third wicket stand with Zawar Farid (9), in an attempt to rally the innings.
Powell made the key breakthrough when he had Stirling caught in the deep in the 12th over – the second of his two wickets – the strikes triggering a slide which saw six wickets tumble for 21 runs.
