ILT20: Liam Livingstone shines as Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat Sharjah Warriorz by 39 runs | Cricket News

Liam Livingstone’s explosive unbeaten 82 balls, including five sixes in the final over, propelled Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to a 39-run victory over Sharjah Warriorz in their ILT20 Season 4 opener at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The Knight Riders posted a score of 233/4, the second highest total in the tournament’s history, while the Warriorz managed a score of 194/9 in response.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford put together a crucial 95-run partnership, with Rutherford contributing 45 off 27 balls. Alex Hales and Alishan Sharafu provided early momentum with their opening partnership, scoring 32 off 19 and 34 off 23 respectively.

The final saw Livingstone create a new record by bowling Dwayne Pretorius for 33 runs, including four consecutive sixes. Adil Rashid became Warriorz’s most efficient bowler with figures of 2/31. The Warriorz chase started poorly, losing three key wickets in the first seven overs for just 56 runs. Tim David led a counterattack with 60 off 24 balls, including six sixes, reaching his fifty off 21 balls.Ajay Kumar’s bowling spell of 1/22 in four overs, including the crucial wicket of David in the 13th over, effectively ended Warriorz’s hopes. Dwayne Pretorius scored 39 off 20 and Adil Rashid scored 25 off 11, including three sixes in one over off Andre Russell.

The Knight Riders’ innings began with Michael Pepper’s quick 15 for 9 before he was dismissed in the third over. Hales and Sharafu then built a 51-point partnership during the power play.Adil Rashid’s double strike reduced Knight Riders to 88/3 in ten overs, but Livingstone and Rutherford maintained the momentum with 19 consecutive overs. Andre Russell joined Livingstone for a quickfire partnership of 50 runs in just 13 balls.“The boys up top played well and established a solid foundation. It took me a while to get going as the pitch was a little slow in the middle, but luckily I found the rhythm towards the end,” said player of the match Liam Livingstone.“It was a dangerous batting line-up and the only way to slow them down was to take wickets. We couldn’t do that in the middle or back end. We were struggling a bit with the ball and probably on the field as well, and it was down to Knight Riders that they played well,” remarked Sharjah Warriorz captain Tim Southee.The Knight Riders’ final total of 233/4 included significant contributions from Livingstone (82 not out), Rutherford (45) and Sharafu (34). Adil Rashid took 2/31, while Saurabh Netravalkar took 1/33.Sharjah Warriorz finished at 194/9, with Tim David leading the way with 60, supported by Pretorius (39) and Rashid (25). George Garton (2/24), Olly Stone (2/37) and Andre Russell (2/48) were the leading wicket-takers for the Knight Riders.