Gulf Giants rout Sharjah Warriors to keep playoffs hopes alive

After posting 187/6, Giants restricted Warriors to 108 to notch up their third win. With the victory, Giants moved to the third spot and kept their hopes alive of making it to the playoffs.

UAE spinner Ayaan Afzal Khan gave Giants a dream start as he got rid of the two batsmen in first two deliveries of the innings to derail the big chase of 189 from the beginning.

Niroshan Dickwella spooned a simple catch to wicketkeeper as he tried to sweep Ayaan and ball got the upper edge of the bat and landed in the safe hands of Smith.

On the next delivery, Denly was caught at mid-off as Warriors were off to a nightmarish start. Both the batsmen were out for a golden duck. After that Warriors kept on losing wickets on regular intervals and could never recover.

Only captain Tom Kohler-Cadmore showed some resistance with a fighting 23-ball 39. But he did not get any support from the other batsmen. By the end of the ninth over, Warriors had reached 50/5, out of which 39 came from Kohler-Cadmore.