In a nail-biting encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on December 24, 2025, the Dubai Capitals chased down a modest target of 135 to defeat the Sharjah Warriorz by 6 wickets with 5 balls to spare. This victory propelled the Capitals further up the standings, showcasing resilient batting and disciplined bowling. The match, part of the DP World ILT20 2025/26 season, highlighted standout performances from Jordan Cox and Shayan Jahangir, who anchored the chase with half-centuries.
Sharjah Warriorz Set a Competitive Total
Winning the toss, Dubai Capitals elected to field first on a pitch that offered something for both batters and bowlers. Sharjah Warriorz started steadily but struggled to build momentum against a tight Capitals attack.
Johnson Charles top-scored with 43 off 46 balls, including two fours and two sixes, providing some stability in the middle order. Early contributions came from Monank Patel (24 off 13) and Tom Abell (9 off 10), but wickets fell at regular intervals. Sikandar Raza (8 off 11) and James Rew (8 off 10) couldn’t capitalize, while Adil Rashid (14* off 9) and Harmeet Singh (14 off 13) added late flourishes to push the total to 134/8.
The Capitals’ bowlers were impressive, with Haider Ali claiming 2/13 in his 4 overs, including the key wickets of Abell and Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Waqar Salamkheil also picked up 2/29, dismissing Charles and Ethan D’Souza in quick succession. Mohammad Nabi and Mustafizur Rahman chipped in with a wicket each, maintaining pressure throughout.
Sharjah Warriorz Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Charles | 43 | 46 | 2 | 2 | 93.47 | c Willey b Waqar Salamkheil |
| Monank Patel | 24 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 184.61 | run out (Willey) |
| Tom Abell | 9 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 90.00 | b Haider Ali |
| Tom Kohler-Cadmore | 8 | – | – | – | – | b Haider Ali |
| Sikandar Raza | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 72.72 | c & b Mustafizur Rahman |
| James Rew †| 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 | c Willey b Mohammad Nabi |
| Ethan D’Souza | – | – | – | – | – | b Waqar Salamkheil |
| Adil Rashid | 14 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 155.55 | not out |
| Harmeet Singh | 14 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 107.69 | c du Plooy b Willey |
| Tim Southee (c) | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 250.00 | not out |
Extras: 6 (lb 4, w 2)
Fall of Wickets: 34-1 (Patel, 4.3), 51-2 (Abell, 7.6), 65-3 (Kohler-Cadmore, 9.4), 88-4 (Raza, 13.1), 99-5 (Charles, 15.2), 101-6 (D’Souza, 15.5), 101-7 (Rew, 16.1), 122-8 (Singh, 19.2)
Dubai Capitals Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Willey | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
| Haider Ali | 4 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 3.25 |
| Waqar Salamkheil | 4 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 7.25 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 4 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 |
Key moments included a strategic timeout at 51/2 after 8 overs and the Warriorz reaching 100 in 15.3 overs, but the innings ended with a whimper as they managed only 134.
Capitals’ Steady Chase Seals the Deal
Chasing 135, Dubai Capitals faced early pressure when Sediqullah Atal fell for 7 in the 4th over. However, Shayan Jahangir (51 off 39) and Jordan Cox (61* off 50) forged a crucial 76-run partnership for the second wicket, steadying the ship and accelerating when needed.
Jahangir smashed 6 fours and a six, reaching his fifty off 38 balls, while Cox played a composed knock with 6 fours and a six, guiding the team home. Mohammad Nabi (4) and Leus du Plooy (5) provided brief support, but it was Rovman Powell’s quick 6* off 4 balls, including a six, that finished the game in style.
Sharjah’s bowlers tried hard, with Sikandar Raza taking 2/15 and Harmeet Singh 1/16, but they couldn’t break the key partnership in time.
Dubai Capitals Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sediqullah Atal | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | b Harmeet Singh |
| Shayan Jahangir †| 51 | 39 | 6 | 1 | 130.76 | c Kohler-Cadmore b Sikandar Raza |
| Jordan Cox | 61 | 50 | 6 | 1 | 122.00 | not out |
| Mohammad Nabi | 4 | 4 | – | – | – | c D’Souza b Sikandar Raza |
| Leus du Plooy | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 | b Taskin Ahmed |
| Rovman Powell | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 150.00 | not out |
Extras: 4 (nb 2, w 2)
Fall of Wickets: 17-1 (Atal, 3.6), 93-2 (Jahangir, 14.1), 97-3 (Nabi, 14.5), 114-4 (du Plooy, 17.3)
Sharjah Warriorz Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sikandar Raza | 4 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 3.75 |
| Taskin Ahmed | 3.1 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 9.15 |
| Harmeet Singh | 4 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 4.00 |
| Tim Southee | 3 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 13.33 |
| Adil Rashid | 4 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 6.50 |
| Wasim Akram | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 |
The Capitals reached 50 in 8.4 overs and 100 in 15.3, with strategic timeouts helping maintain focus. Cox’s unbeaten fifty was the cornerstone of the chase.
Player of the Match: Jordan Cox
Jordan Cox’s match-winning 61 not out earned him the Player of the Match award. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, adapting to the conditions and ensuring the Capitals crossed the line comfortably.
Standings Update and What’s Next
With this win, Dubai Capitals moved to 10 points from 9 matches, sitting third in the ILT20 standings behind Desert Vipers (14 points) and MI Emirates (12 points). Sharjah Warriorz remain at the bottom with 6 points.
ILT20 2025/26 Standings
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Vipers | 9 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 0.446 |
| MI Emirates | 9 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 0.576 |
| Dubai Capitals | 9 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 0.804 |
| Gulf Giants | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | -0.161 |
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | -0.805 |
| Sharjah Warriorz | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | -0.864 |
This result keeps the playoff race intense as the tournament progresses. Fans can look forward to more high-stakes action in the coming matches.
