Match Overview
abu dhabi knight riders vs dubai capitals match scorecard the International League T20 (ILT20) 2025-26 series took place on January 1, 2026, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In this high-stakes knockout cricket match, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) faced off against the Dubai Capitals (DC). Winning the toss, ADKR’s captain Jason Holder elected to bat first on a pitch that offered slight assistance to the spinners as the game progressed.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders posted a competitive total of 158/7 in their 20 overs, anchored by a brilliant middle-order innings. In response, the Dubai Capitals batting lineup suffered a dramatic collapse against a relentless ADKR bowling attack. The final result saw the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders win by a convincing margin of 50 runs, booking their ticket to the next stage of the tournament. The Player of the Match award was rightfully given to Michael Pepper for his match-winning 72 runs with the bat.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals Match Scorecard: ADKR Batting
Here is the detailed batting scorecard for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders innings.
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | c Naseem Shah b Waqar Salamkheil | 43 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 126.47 |
| Joe Root | c Shai Hope b David Willey | 12 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Michael Pepper | c Rovman Powell b Mohammad Nabi | 72 | 49 | 7 | 3 | 146.93 |
| Jason Holder (c) | not out | 22 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 200.00 |
| Liam Livingstone | c Haider Ali b Waqar Salamkheil | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Finn Allen | b Mohammad Nabi | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Sunil Narine | c Shai Hope b Haider Ali | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Piyush Chawla | c Shai Hope b Mohammad Nabi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Ajay Kumar | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Extras | 2 | |||||
| Total | 158/7 | 20.0 |
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals Match Scorecard: DC Bowling
The bowling figures for the Dubai Capitals bowlers during the ADKR innings.
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Willey | 4 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 8.25 |
| Waqar Salamkheil | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 6.25 |
| Haider Ali | 4 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 8.50 |
| Muhammad Jawadullah | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 8.00 |
| Navin Bidaisee | 2 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 11.50 |
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals Match Scorecard: DC Batting
The complete batting scorecard for the Dubai Capitals in their chase.
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Hope | c Phil Salt b Sunil Narine | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Shayan Jahangir | c Joe Root b Jason Holder | 15 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Rovman Powell | c Liam Livingstone b Sunil Narine | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| James Neesham | c Michael Pepper b Piyush Chawla | 19 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 146.15 |
| Haider Ali | c Jason Holder b Sunil Narine | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 110.00 |
| Mohammad Nabi (c) | c Phil Salt b Liam Livingstone | 27 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 128.57 |
| David Willey | c Michael Pepper b Liam Livingstone | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Waqar Salamkheil | c Jason Holder b Liam Livingstone | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Naseem Shah | not out | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Navin Bidaisee | b Jason Holder | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Muhammad Jawadullah | b Jason Holder | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 2 | |||||
| Total | 108 | 16.2 |
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals Match Scorecard: ADKR Bowling
The bowling analysis for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, who successfully defended their total.
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunil Narine | 3 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 4.00 |
| Jason Holder | 3.2 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 5.40 |
| Liam Livingstone | 4 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 6.50 |
| Piyush Chawla | 3 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Ajay Kumar | 3 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 8.00 |
Key Highlights & Match Analysis
The Eliminator clash between the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Dubai Capitals was a masterclass in T20 bowling, overshadowing what was initially a solid batting display. The turning point of the cricket match undoubtedly occurred during the middle overs of the Dubai Capitals’ innings. After a decent start that took them to 45/2 in the powerplay, DC suffered a catastrophic collapse, losing 8 wickets for just 63 runs to be bowled out for 108 in 16.2 overs.
Top Batting Performance: Michael Pepper was the standout performer with the bat for ADKR. Coming in at a crucial juncture when the team was 55/2, Pepper played a mature and anchor-like innings. His 72 runs off 49 balls, featuring 7 fours and 3 sixes, stabilized the innings and allowed the lower order to free their arms. Phil Salt also provided a brisk start at the top, scoring a valuable 43 off 34 balls, which set a solid foundation for the total of 158. For DC, captain Mohammad Nabi fought a lone battle, scoring a gritty 27 off 21 balls, but it was far from enough to change the momentum.
Top Bowling Performance: The bowling figures tell the story of Dubai’s downfall. Sunil Narine was absolutely unplayable in the powerplay, finishing with spectacular figures of 3/12 in his 3 overs. His subtle variations and flight completely bamboozled the DC top order. Jason Holder and Liam Livingstone were equally destructive in the middle and death overs. Holder claimed 3/18, utilizing his cutters brilliantly on a slowing pitch, while Livingstone’s aggressive bowling yielded 3/26. Together, this trio accounted for 9 of the 10 wickets that fell.
Records and Milestones: This match highlighted the dominance of spin in the UAE conditions. Sunil Narine’s economy rate of 4.00 in a high-pressure knockout game is a testament to his world-class status in franchise T20 cricket. Furthermore, Michael Pepper’s strike rate of nearly 147 in a chase-or-defend scenario showcased his evolution into a reliable finisher in the ILT20 series.
Head-to-Head Record
Here is the historical head-to-head record between these two franchises in the ILT20 series.
| Format | Matches | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Wins | Dubai Capitals Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals match? A: The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders won the Eliminator match against the Dubai Capitals by a dominant margin of 50 runs.
Q: Who was the Player of the Match in the ADKR vs DC Eliminator? A: Michael Pepper was named the Player of the Match for his crucial and match-winning innings of 72 runs off 49 balls.
Q: What was the final match result and score? A : Abu Dhabi Knight Riders scored 158/7 in 20 overs. In response, Dubai Capitals were bowled out for 108 in 16.2 overs, resulting in a 50-run victory for ADKR.
Q: When and where was the match played? A: The match was played on January 1, 2026, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE as part of the ILT20 2025-26 season.
Q: What is the current series score in the head-to-head? A: In their overall T20 head-to-head record, Dubai Capitals lead with 5 wins, while Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have won 3 matches out of the 8 played.
Conclusion
The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals match scorecard reflects a comprehensive victory for ADKR, driven by Michael Pepper’s vital batting and a historic three-pronged bowling attack from Narine, Holder, and Livingstone. By restricting Dubai Capitals to a mere 108, ADKR has successfully advanced in the ILT20 2025-26 playoffs. They will now look to carry this momentum into Qualifier 2, scheduled for January 4, 2026, where they will face the loser of the first qualifier to secure a spot in the grand final.
