Match Overview
gulf giants vs dubai capitals match scorecard encounter in the International League T20 (ILT20) 2025-26 season as the Gulf Giants took on the Dubai Capitals in Match 23 of the tournament. The match was played on December 21, 2025, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, a venue known for its balanced pitch that offers something for both batters and bowlers as the game progresses.
Winning the toss, the Gulf Giants elected to bat first, looking to post a competitive total on what appeared to be a slightly slow surface. However, their innings never quite gained the momentum required to intimidate the chasing side. Restricted by disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, the Giants were bundled out for 156 runs in 19.5 overs. The middle order collapsed under pressure, failing to capitalize on the starts provided by the top order.
In response, the Dubai Capitals started cautiously but found their rhythm through a crucial partnership. Despite losing early wickets, the experienced duo of Rovman Powell and Mohammad Nabi steadied the ship with an aggressive counter-attack. They guided the team home with ease, reaching the target of 157 with 6 wickets in hand and just 4 balls to spare. The victory was sealed in the 19.2nd over, keeping Dubai Capitals’ playoff hopes alive in the league stage.
The Player of the Match award was deservedly given to Mustafizur Rahman of the Dubai Capitals. His spell of 3 wickets for 24 runs in 4 overs, including a devastating death-over performance, broke the backbone of the Gulf Giants’ batting lineup and set the foundation for his team’s victory. This Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match scorecard reflects a game where bowling discipline triumphed over erratic batting.
Gulf Giants Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Hales | c Du Plooy b Mustafizur | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Tom Kohler-Cadmore | lbw b Qais Ahmad | 28 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 127.27 |
| James Vince | c Hales b Salman Agha | 15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 107.14 |
| Rovman Powell | c Nabi b Mustafizur | 47 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 151.61 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | b Naveen-ul-Haq | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Mohammad Nabi | not out | 25 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 178.57 |
| Chris Jordan | c Shayan b Mustafizur | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Gerald Coetzee | run out (Nabi) | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Adam Zampa | c Powell b Naveen-ul-Haq | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Lockie Ferguson | b Naveen-ul-Haq | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Trent Boult | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 13 | |||||
| Total | 156/10 | 19.5 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-18 (Hales), 2-45 (Vince), 3-72 (Kohler-Cadmore), 4-88 (Hetmyer), 5-130 (Powell), 6-142 (Jordan), 7-148 (Coetzee), 8-148 (Zampa), 9-156 (Ferguson)
Dubai Capitals Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustafizur Rahman | 4.0 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 3.5 | 0 | 32 | 3 | 8.34 |
| Qais Ahmad | 4.0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
| Salman Agha | 4.0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 |
| Sikandar Raza | 2.0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Azam Khan | 2.0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 9.50 |
Dubai Capitals Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Hales | c Hetmyer b Boult | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Shayan Jahangir | c Vince b Zampa | 48 | 44 | 5 | 1 | 109.09 |
| Leus du Plooy | c Kohler-Cadmore b Ferguson | 22 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 146.66 |
| Rovman Powell | not out | 47 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 151.61 |
| Mohammad Nabi | not out | 25 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 178.57 |
| Sikandar Raza | c Jordan b Coetzee | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Azam Khan | b Boult | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Salman Agha | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Qais Ahmad | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mustafizur Rahman | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 2 | |||||
| Total | 162/4 | 19.2 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-25 (Hales), 2-68 (Du Plooy), 3-95 (Jahangir), 4-110 (Raza)
Gulf Giants Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Boult | 4.0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4.0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 |
| Chris Jordan | 3.2 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 11.40 |
| Adam Zampa | 4.0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 6.50 |
| Gerald Coetzee | 4.0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 8.25 |
Key Highlights & Match Analysis
This Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match scorecard tells the story of a contest defined by resilience and tactical bowling. While the Gulf Giants posted a modest total of 156, it was not enough against a Dubai Capitals side that has shown remarkable consistency in the ILT20 2025-26 season.
Top Batting Performance: For the Gulf Giants, Rovman Powell was the standout batter, scoring a quick-fire 47 off 31 balls. His strike rate of over 150 ensured that the total didn’t look too meager. However, he lacked support from the other end, as wickets fell at regular intervals. For Dubai Capitals, Shayan Jahangir played a crucial anchor role. His 48 off 44 balls provided stability during the middle overs, allowing the lower order to accelerate. The unbeaten stand between Powell (47*) and Mohammad Nabi (25*) was the difference-maker, adding 52 runs in just 30 balls to seal the win comfortably.
Top Bowling Performance: The match belonged to Mustafizur Rahman. The left-arm pacer used his cutters effectively on the Dubai pitch, deceiving the batters with variation in pace. His figures of 3/24 included the key wickets of Alex Hales and Rovman Powell, breaking potential partnerships. Naveen-ul-Haq provided excellent support from the other end, picking up 3 wickets in the death overs to restrict the Giants to under 160.
Turning Point: The turning point came in the 16th over when Gulf Giants were looking to push towards 170. Mustafizur Rahman returned to bowl and dismissed the set batter Rovman Powell, who was looking dangerous. This wicket triggered a collapse, with the last five wickets falling for just 26 runs. Had Powell stayed till the end, the Giants might have reached a more defendable total of 175+.
Records & Milestones: This victory marked Dubai Capitals’ fourth consecutive win in the league stage, strengthening their position in the points table. For Mohammad Nabi, this match highlighted his enduring value as an all-rounder in T20 cricket, contributing significantly with both bat and ball in recent fixtures.
Head-to-Head Record
| Format | Matches | Gulf Giants Wins | Dubai Capitals Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Note: The rivalry has been closely contested, with Dubai Capitals holding a slight edge in recent encounters.
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match? A: Dubai Capitals won the match by 6 wickets, chasing down the target of 157 runs with 4 balls to spare.
Q: Who was the Player of the Match in Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals? A: Mustafizur Rahman was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant bowling figures of 3 wickets for 24 runs.
Q: What was the final result of the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match scorecard? A: Gulf Giants scored 156 all out in 19.5 overs, and Dubai Capitals scored 162/4 in 19.2 overs. Dubai Capitals won by 6 wickets.
Q: When and where was the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match played? A: The match was played on December 21, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium during the ILT20 2025-26 season.
Q: What is the current series score between Gulf Giants and Dubai Capitals? A: In the ongoing ILT20 2025-26 league stage, this was a single league match. Overall in their head-to-head history, Dubai Capitals lead 3-2 in T20 matches.
Conclusion
The Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match scorecard from December 21, 2025, showcases a comprehensive team performance by the Capitals. While the Giants struggled to convert starts into big scores, Dubai Capitals displayed superior depth in batting and precision in bowling. Mustafizur Rahman’s heroics with the ball and the calm finishing by Rovman Powell and Mohammad Nabi ensured a vital victory for the Capitals. As the ILT20 2025-26 season progresses, both teams will look to refine their strategies, but for now, Dubai Capitals remain the stronger side in this fixture. Fans can expect more thrilling encounters as the league moves toward the playoff stages.
