ILT20 2024: Top run-getters and wicket-takers after Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriors (Updated) ft. Michael Pepper and Daniel Sams
The 25th match of the International League T20 saw the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders take on the Sharjah Warriors at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Sharjah captain Tom Kohler-Cadmore won the toss and elected to field first.
The decision to bowl first paid instant dividends as Joe Clarke was dismissed for a three-ball duck in the very first over off Chris Woakes' bowling. Clarke's opening partner Michael Pepper tried to steady the innings but wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals at the other end as the Abu Dhabi batting faltered in the face of some disciplined bowling.
Pepper waged a lone battle, top-scoring with 32 runs off just 21 balls. His quickfire knock was laced with five boundaries and came at an impressive strike rate of 152.38. Adil Rashid was the pick of the Sharjah bowlers, finishing with excellent figures of 4/12 in his four overs at an economy rate of 3. Joe Denly provided good support from the other end with two wickets as Abu Dhabi were bowled out for a paltry 94 in 17.1 overs.
In reply, Sharjah opener Niroshan Dickewella got their team off to a flying start. Batting at No. 3, Liam Livingstone was in an aggressive mood right from ball one, bringing up his 30 off just 13 deliveries, smashing three fours and as many sixes at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 230.77.
In the end, Sharjah coasted to a comfortable seven-wicket win with 37 balls to spare.
ILT20 2024 Most Runs List
Hard-hitting Trinidadian Nicholas Pooran of the Mumbai Indians Emirates leads the run-scoring charts. The left-handed batter has amassed 261 runs from eight innings at an excellent average of 43.5.
Giving him close pursuit just 13 runs behind is Pakistani opener Muhammad Waseem of the Dubai Capitals. He has shown immense consistency, notching up 248 runs at an average of 41.33 in his eight knocks so far.
In third place on the leaderboard is the dangerous Chris Lynn with 244 runs at an average of 40.66. Meanwhile, Johnson Charles of the Sharjah Warriors has scored a total of 232 runs at an average of 33.14.
Rounding off the top five ILT20 run-getters is M Perera of Mumbai Indians Emirates, with 230 runs under his belt from six innings, averaging a solid 38.33 and boasting a strike rate of 165.46.
Michael Pepper, Sikandar Raza, Alex Hales, Andre Russell, and Alishan Sharafu occupy the next five spots on the leaderboard, scoring 224,203, 195,192, and 191 runs, respectively.
ILT20 2024 Most Wickets List
Afghanistan pace sensation Fazalhaq Farooqi leads the wicket-taking charts in the ILT20. Representing table-toppers Mumbai Indians Emirates, Farooqi has claimed 17 wickets in eight matches with a tidy economy rate of 7.65.
Farooqi's new-ball partner Trent Boult slots in at second place with 13 scalps at an economy of 8.06. Spin wizard Wanindu Hasaranga is placed third, with the Sri Lankan having snapped up 12 wickets while conceding just above six runs per over.
Daniel Sams of the Sharjah Warriors is fourth on the leaderboard with 12 wickets as well. Veteran Pakistani quick Mohammad Amir rounds off the top five with 11 wickets at a respectable economy of 7.62. Maheesh Theekshana of the Sharjah Warriors is in the sixth spot with 11 wickets.
Waqar Salamkheil, Muhammad Jawadullah, PVD Chameera, and Imad Wasim occupy the next four positions in the top 10, all with 10 wickets each in the tournament so far.