A dramatic evening at the Dubai International Stadium ended with the Sharjah Warriorz securing a thrilling three-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants in a nail-biting finish on Sunday. The hero of the match was Tom Kohler-Cadmore, whose unbeaten 83 off 56 balls steered the Warriorz to their target of 175 on the very last delivery of the match.
Kohler-Cadmore’s sublime knock, studded with six fours and four sixes, was complemented by a crucial contribution from UAE all-rounder Rohan Mustafa, who scored 45 off 33 balls. The duo forged a 105-run partnership that formed the backbone of the chase, propelling the Warriorz to a strong position despite some tense moments in the final overs.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Chasing 175, the Warriorz had a shaky start, losing Johnson Charles in the opening over to Daniel Worall and Jason Roy in the second to Mark Adair. However, Kohler-Cadmore and Mustafa stabilised the innings with an aggressive yet calculated approach, guiding their team to 55/2 by the end of the powerplay.
Kohler-Cadmore brought up his half-century off just 32 balls, showcasing his ability to find boundaries with ease. Mustafa provided steady support before falling to Blessing Muzarabani in the 13th over, leaving the Warriorz at 119/3.
The middle order faltered under pressure, with Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Karim Janat departing cheaply. Keemo Paul offered a glimmer of hope with a brisk 11 off five balls, but his stay was cut short by Muzarabani. As wickets tumbled, the Warriorz needed 24 runs from the final two overs.
Adil Rashid struck a vital six in the 19th over, which yielded 14 runs and brought the target within touching distance. With 10 runs required from the last over, Kohler-Cadmore held his nerve, smashing crucial boundaries to seal the victory.
Earlier, Gulf Giants struggled to find momentum after being put into bat. Sharjah Warriorz captain Tim Southee led from the front, dismissing Adam Lyth and James Vince in the powerplay. Rehan Ahmed (46 off 27) and Jordan Cox (38 off 32) rebuilt the innings with a 57-run partnership, steering the Giants to 102/4 by the 14th over.
Shimron Hetmyer provided a late surge, smashing 36 off 23 balls, including five fours and a six. Mark Adair’s quick-fire 20 not out off 10 deliveries and Saghir Khan’s cameo of 11 runs off four balls pushed the Giants to a competitive total of 174/7. Southee was the standout bowler for the Warriorz, finishing with 3/30.
After the match, Kohler-Cadmore expressed relief and satisfaction, saying, “It is great to get off with a win. I would have been devastated had we not got over the line. The pitch played well once you got your eye in; it was easier to hit.”
Gulf Giants skipper James Vince praised Kohler-Cadmore’s knock, admitting, “Having someone staying till the end was crucial. He is a quality player, a clean striker of the ball. It was a quality knock.”
The result marked a memorable start for the Sharjah Warriorz, who showcased resilience and brilliance under pressure to claim victory in this electrifying contest.
Brief Scores
- Gulf Giants 174/7 in 20 overs (Rehan Ahmed 46, Jordan Cox 38, Shimron Hetmyer 36, Tim Southee 3 for 30)
- Sharjah Warriorz 175/7 in 20 overs (Tom Kohler-Cadmore 83 not out, Rohan Mustafa 45, Mark Adair 2 for 23, Blessing Muzarabani 2 for 27)
