Match overview
Mi Emirates beat Dubai Capitals by 8 wickets at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on 27 December 2025. Dubai Capitals posted 122/8 from their 20 overs, a total comfortably below the venue's average first-innings score of 180. Mi Emirates' openers then put the chase to bed efficiently, reaching 126/2 with wickets and overs to spare. AM Ghazanfar was named Player of the Match for his contribution with the ball, which helped trigger the middle-overs collapse that effectively settled the contest.
The match turned in overs 7 to 15, when Dubai Capitals lost five wickets for 53 runs. A decent powerplay score of 35/2 gave them a workable platform, but the middle-order disintegration left the lower order needing to score 34 off the death with only two wickets standing. They managed it, reaching 122, but that kind of innings structure rarely produces a defendable total on any surface.
Mi Emirates' reply was controlled throughout. The powerplay brought 45 runs without loss, already above the venue's average of 39, and the run rate never demanded anything frantic. The death overs, with the game already won, yielded just 13 runs at no cost. A 50-per-cent chase success rate at this ground makes it an even enough venue, but Mi Emirates' openers made this one look uncomplicated.
Venue and conditions
Zayed Cricket Stadium has now hosted 242 T20 matches, giving a substantial data set on how pitches here tend to behave. The average first-innings score of 180 is generous for a UAE ground, though there is clear variation: when pitches are slower, scoring rates in the middle overs can drop sharply, and this match was an example of that. Dubai Capitals' tally of 122 was 58 runs below the venue mean, which points to either an unusually sticky pitch or a significant batting failure, probably both.
Teams winning the toss field first 53 per cent of the time at this venue. Mi Emirates read that correctly. The average powerplay score of 39 also frames their 45-run, no-wicket powerplay as genuinely above par. At the death, the average is 36 runs per side; Dubai Capitals' 34 was marginally below, while Mi Emirates needed only 13, suggesting they were never in danger of losing control.
The chase success rate of 50 per cent means the ground offers no structural advantage to either batting or bowling first on aggregate, but individual pitch conditions can swing that considerably. On this occasion, bowling first was clearly the right call.
How to watch
ILT20 matches are available to UK viewers on Sky Sports Cricket and via Sky Go for subscribers. NOW TV day or week passes provide access to Sky Sports for those without a full package. Coverage of the ILT20 season typically includes live commentary and highlights packages, so UK fans in different time zones have options for catching up.
The Abu Dhabi fixtures generally start in the early evening local time, which puts them in the late afternoon or early evening in the UK depending on the time of year. Check the Sky Sports schedule for exact UK kick-off times for upcoming fixtures.
Recent form
Dubai Capitals came into this fixture with three wins from their previous five matches in 2025, having beaten Sharjah Warriorz twice and Gulf Giants. The two losses came against Desert Vipers and Mi Emirates, which in hindsight flagged where their vulnerabilities lie: against well-organised bowling attacks, their middle order has struggled to maintain momentum.
Mi Emirates entered in better shape, having won four of their last five, with victories over Gulf Giants, Desert Vipers, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, and Dubai Capitals before this game. Their only recent defeat came against Sharjah Warriorz. Four wins from five is strong form in any T20 competition, and the manner of this victory confirms they are the side in form as the ILT20 season progresses. Dubai Capitals will need to address their middle-overs fragility before their next outing if they want to stay in contention.