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The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Vs Dubai Capitals Match Scorecard from the International League T20 (ILT20) 2025–26 season records a convincing victory for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the tournament’s Eliminator. The match was played on January 1, 2026, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders scored 158/7 in 20 overs and then bowled Dubai Capitals out for 108 in 16.2 overs, winning by 50 runs.
Michael Pepper scored 72 runs from 49 balls, while Phil Salt contributed 43 runs. Sunil Narine was named Player of the Match after taking three wickets for just 12 runs. Jason Holder and Liam Livingstone also claimed three wickets each, helping Abu Dhabi Knight Riders dominate the second innings.
Match Summary
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | International League T20 2025–26 |
| Match | Eliminator |
| Teams | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals |
| Date | January 1, 2026 |
| Venue | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai |
| Toss Winner | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders |
| Toss Decision | Elected to bat |
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 158/7 in 20 overs |
| Dubai Capitals | 108 all out in 16.2 overs |
| Result | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders won by 50 runs |
| Player of the Match | Sunil Narine |
| Top Scorer for Abu Dhabi | Michael Pepper, 72 |
| Top Scorer for Dubai | Mohammad Nabi, 27 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Sunil Narine, 3/12 |
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders set a competitive target through a strong partnership between Michael Pepper and Phil Salt. Dubai Capitals struggled to build a successful chase as Narine, Holder, and Livingstone took wickets at regular intervals.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Batting Scorecard
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders began their innings with the objective of posting a total that would put Dubai Capitals under pressure. Michael Pepper led the batting effort with 72 runs from 49 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. Phil Salt added 43 runs from 34 deliveries.
The two batters established the foundation for a competitive total, although Dubai Capitals fought back during the middle and death overs.
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | c substitute fielder b Mohammad Nabi | 43 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 126.47 |
| Michael Pepper | Run out | 72 | 49 | 7 | 3 | 146.94 |
| Andre Russell | b Haider Ali | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Liam Livingstone | c David Willey b Mohammad Nabi | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Alishan Sharafu | st Shayan Jahangir b Mohammad Nabi | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Alex Hales | c Rovman Powell b Waqar Salamkheil | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Jason Holder | Not out | 22 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 200.00 |
| Brandon McMullen | Run out | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 |
| Sunil Narine | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Piyush Chawla | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ajay Kumar | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | — | 9 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 7 wickets | 158 | 20 overs | 7.90 runs/over |
Michael Pepper’s Important Innings
Michael Pepper was the leading scorer for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. His 72 runs from 49 balls provided stability and helped the team maintain a competitive scoring rate. Pepper combined boundary hitting with strike rotation and played an important role in building the innings.
Phil Salt’s 43 was equally valuable in establishing the platform. The partnership between Salt and Pepper gave Abu Dhabi a strong start before Dubai Capitals began taking wickets.
Jason Holder’s Late Contribution
Jason Holder scored an unbeaten 22 from just 11 balls, including two sixes. His aggressive finish helped Abu Dhabi Knight Riders reach 158/7 despite losing several wickets in the latter part of the innings.
The late runs were important because they gave the Knight Riders a total they could defend with their strong bowling attack.
Dubai Capitals Bowling Scorecard
Dubai Capitals’ bowlers took important wickets during the second half of Abu Dhabi’s innings. Mohammad Nabi was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for 25 runs. Jason Holder and Waqar Salamkheil also helped restrict the scoring.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Holder | 4 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Ajay Kumar | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
| Olly Stone | 3 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 8.67 |
| Piyush Chawla | 3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 7.67 |
| Sunil Narine | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 |
| Andre Russell | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 18.50 |
Mohammad Nabi’s three wickets were a major contribution, especially when Abu Dhabi Knight Riders looked set to finish with a larger total. However, the Capitals could not completely prevent Holder’s late acceleration.
Dubai Capitals Batting Scorecard
Dubai Capitals needed 159 runs to win but suffered early setbacks. Toby Albert, Shayan Jahangir, and Jordan Cox were dismissed during the powerplay, leaving the team under pressure.
Mohammad Nabi top-scored with 27 runs from 21 balls. James Neesham added 19, while Rovman Powell and Jordan Cox made smaller contributions. Dubai Capitals were eventually dismissed for 108 in 16.2 overs.
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toby Albert | c Alishan Sharafu b Jason Holder | 11 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 137.50 |
| Shayan Jahangir | lbw b Sunil Narine | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Jordan Cox | c Michael Pepper b Ajay Kumar | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Gulbadin Naib | c Andre Russell b Sunil Narine | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 70.00 |
| Navin Bidaisee | b Sunil Narine | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 70.00 |
| Rovman Powell | c substitute fielder b Liam Livingstone | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| James Neesham | c Alishan Sharafu b Liam Livingstone | 19 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 146.15 |
| Mohammad Nabi | c Michael Pepper b Jason Holder | 27 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 128.57 |
| David Willey | lbw b Liam Livingstone | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Haider Ali | Not out | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Muhammad Jawadullah | c Michael Pepper b Jason Holder | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Waqar Salamkheil | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | — | 4 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | All out | 108 | 16.2 overs | 6.61 runs/over |
Key Batting Performances for Dubai Capitals
Mohammad Nabi was Dubai Capitals’ highest scorer with 27 runs from 21 balls. He attempted to rebuild the innings after early wickets, but the team had already lost several important batters.
James Neesham scored 19 from 13 deliveries, including a six, while Rovman Powell contributed 12. These performances provided brief resistance, but Dubai could not establish the partnerships required to chase the target.
The early dismissal of key batters forced Dubai to take risks. Sunil Narine’s control and the wickets taken by Holder and Livingstone ensured that the Capitals never gained sufficient momentum.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Bowling Scorecard
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders delivered a dominant bowling performance, dismissing Dubai Capitals for 108. Sunil Narine, Jason Holder, and Liam Livingstone took three wickets each, giving the bowling attack exceptional balance.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajay Kumar | 3 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Jason Holder | 3 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Sunil Narine | 3 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 4.00 |
| Piyush Chawla | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Liam Livingstone | 4 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 6.50 |
Sunil Narine was particularly impressive, conceding just 12 runs in three overs while taking three wickets. His economical spell prevented Dubai Capitals from building partnerships and earned him the Player of the Match award.
Jason Holder also played a decisive role, taking three wickets for 18 runs. Liam Livingstone claimed another three wickets, removing important batters during the middle and later stages of the innings.
Together, these three bowlers dismantled Dubai’s batting lineup and secured the 50-run win.
Fall of Wickets
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
| Batter Dismissed | Score at Fall | Over |
|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | 122/1 | 13.3 |
| Michael Pepper | 124/2 | 14.1 |
| Andre Russell | 124/3 | 14.3 |
| Alishan Sharafu | 127/4 | 15.1 |
| Alex Hales | 130/5 | 16.1 |
| Liam Livingstone | 142/6 | 17.4 |
| Brandon McMullen | 158/7 | 20.0 |
The Knight Riders lost wickets in quick succession after building a strong opening partnership. Holder’s late contribution helped the team finish with 158 runs.
Dubai Capitals
| Batter Dismissed | Score at Fall | Over |
|---|---|---|
| Toby Albert | 11/1 | 1.2 |
| Jordan Cox | 31/2 | 2.5 |
| Shayan Jahangir | 35/3 | 3.4 |
| Navin Bidaisee | 43/4 | 5.4 |
| Gulbadin Naib | 49/5 | 7.3 |
| Rovman Powell | 64/6 | 9.4 |
| James Neesham | 79/7 | 11.3 |
| David Willey | 84/8 | 13.1 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 108/9 | 16.1 |
| Muhammad Jawadullah | 108/10 | 16.2 |
Dubai Capitals lost wickets from the beginning of the innings, making a successful chase increasingly unlikely. The team was bowled out with 22 balls remaining.
Key Turning Points of the Match
Pepper and Salt’s Partnership
Michael Pepper and Phil Salt laid the foundation for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ total. Their contributions allowed the team to recover from a few early setbacks and put pressure on Dubai Capitals.
Holder’s Late-Innings Hitting
Jason Holder’s unbeaten 22 from 11 balls gave Abu Dhabi valuable late runs. Those additional runs increased the pressure on Dubai Capitals during the chase.
Sunil Narine’s Match-Winning Spell
Narine took three wickets for 12 runs in three overs. His performance disrupted the Capitals’ batting lineup and kept the required run rate beyond their control.
Three Wickets Each for Holder and Livingstone
Jason Holder and Liam Livingstone also took three wickets each. Their contributions meant Dubai could not recover after losing early batters, and the innings ended at 108.
Important Match Statistics
| Statistic | Result |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 158/7 |
| Dubai Capitals | 108 all out |
| Winning margin | 50 runs |
| Abu Dhabi’s top scorer | Michael Pepper, 72 |
| Dubai’s top scorer | Mohammad Nabi, 27 |
| Best bowling figures | Sunil Narine, 3/12 |
| Jason Holder’s bowling | 3/18 |
| Liam Livingstone’s bowling | 3/26 |
| Player of the Match | Sunil Narine |
| Venue | Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals Eliminator in 2026?
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders won by 50 runs. They scored 158/7, then bowled Dubai Capitals out for 108 in 16.2 overs.
What was Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ score?
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders scored 158 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs.
What was Dubai Capitals’ score?
Dubai Capitals were all out for 108 in 16.2 overs while chasing 159 runs.
Who was named Player of the Match?
Sunil Narine received the Player of the Match award after taking three wickets for 12 runs in three overs.
Who scored the most runs for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders?
Michael Pepper was the highest scorer for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders with 72 runs from 49 balls.
Conclusion
The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Vs Dubai Capitals Match Scorecard from the ILT20 2025–26 Eliminator records a convincing 50-run victory for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Michael Pepper’s 72 and Phil Salt’s 43 helped the Knight Riders reach 158/7, while Jason Holder’s late runs strengthened the total.
Dubai Capitals struggled during their chase and were dismissed for 108. Sunil Narine led the bowling attack with three wickets for 12 runs, supported by three wickets each from Jason Holder and Liam Livingstone.
The result highlighted the value of building a competitive total and maintaining pressure through disciplined bowling. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ combined performance with bat and ball proved decisive in this Eliminator contest.
