West Indies batsman Shai Hope played a pivotal role in guiding the Dubai Capitals to a five-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants in their DP World ILT20 clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Hope anchored the Capitals’ chase with a composed 47 off 39 balls, a knock laced with three fours and two sixes. His innings provided stability after the Capitals faced early setbacks, as they lost key wickets to the Giants' disciplined bowling attack.
Chasing 154, the Capitals stumbled at 77-4 with Ben Dunk (10), Khalid Shah (10), Gulbadin Naib (17), and Najibullah Zadran (7) back in the pavilion. However, Hope’s calm presence at the crease ensured the chase remained on track.
The West Indian was eventually supported by Sikandar Raza and Dasun Shanaka, whose unbroken 44-run partnership sealed the win. Shanaka’s explosive 34 not out, off just 10 balls, featured three fours and three sixes and added a thrilling finish to the innings.
Raza, steady with 26 not out off 15 balls, complemented Shanaka’s aggression with one boundary and a six, as the Capitals reached their target at 154-5 with five balls to spare.
Aayan Afzal Khan was the standout bowler for the Giants with figures of 2-23, while Dominic Drakes went wicketless.
Obed McCoy and his Dubai Capitals teammates celebrate a wicket. (Photos: ILT20)
Earlier, the Gulf Giants, sent in to bat, struggled to build momentum early in their innings. Captain James Vince (24), Ibrahim Zadran (3), and Tom Alsop (2) were dismissed within the powerplay, leaving the Giants reeling at 42-3.
Jordan Cox and Gerhard Erasmus then orchestrated a recovery with a 69-run partnership. Cox top-scored with a determined 70 off 53 balls, featuring four boundaries and a six. Erasmus contributed 29 with a four and a six before his dismissal.
Shimron Hetmyer chipped in with an unbeaten 17 off 15 balls, striking two boundaries, while Cox’s knock ended in a run-out in the final over. The Giants finished on 153-5, a total that ultimately proved insufficient.
Obed McCoy was among four Capitals bowlers who took a wicket each.
The win propels the Dubai Capitals to third in the standings with six points, level with second-placed MI Emirates. The Desert Vipers remain atop the table with 10 points, while the Gulf Giants languish at the bottom with two points.