Superb Knock by Tom Kohler-Cadmore Leads Sharjah Warriorz to Victory

Dubai: In an electrifying encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s unbeaten 83 guided the Sharjah Warriorz to a nail-biting three-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants in the DP World ILT20. The match went down to the final delivery, highlighting Kohler-Cadmore’s skill and composure as he struck six fours and four sixes in his 56-ball innings.

Kohler-Cadmore, who was awarded Player of the Match, expressed his relief after the victory, saying, “It is great to get off with a win. I would have been devastated had we not got over the line. The pitch played well once you got your eye in; it was easier to hit.”

Chasing 175, the Warriorz faced early setbacks, losing Johnson Charles and Jason Roy in the first two overs. However, Kohler-Cadmore, alongside UAE’s Rohan Mustafa, stabilized the innings with a vital 105-run partnership. Mustafa’s 45 off 33 balls was crucial before he was dismissed in the 13th over, leaving the Warriorz at 119-3.

Despite the fall of wickets at the other end, Kohler-Cadmore remained steadfast, pacing his innings with precision. With 24 runs needed off the final two overs, Adil Rashid’s six in the 19th over brought the equation down to 10 off the last six balls. Kohler-Cadmore’s calmness in the dramatic final over ensured the Warriorz secured victory on the last ball.

Earlier, Sharjah Warriorz captain Tim Southee opted to bowl first, a decision that paid off as he took three wickets for 30 runs. Southee’s early strikes reduced the Gulf Giants to 41-2 in the powerplay. Rehan Ahmed (46 off 27 balls) and Jordan Cox (36 off 23 balls) steadied the innings for the Giants, with Shimron Hetmyer adding a quickfire 36 off 23 balls. Contributions from Mark Adair (20) and Saghir Khan (11 off 4) lifted the Giants to a competitive 174-7.

Reflecting on the match, Gulf Giants’ captain James Vince praised Kohler-Cadmore’s performance, saying, “I’m pretty happy with that score. There was some quality bowling from them upfront. Rehan and Cox built a good partnership, and Hettie did what he does. The half chance of Cadmore proved costly. Having someone stay till the end was crucial. He is a quality player, a clean striker of the ball. It was a quality knock.”

The DP World ILT20 continues to provide thrilling cricket, with fans eagerly awaiting the next match.

Brief Scores:

• Sharjah Warriorz 175/7 (Kohler-Cadmore 83*, Mustafa 45; Adair 2/23, Muzarabani 2/27) defeated Gulf Giants 174/7 (Ahmed 46; Southee 3/30).

Player of the Match: Tom Kohler-Cadmore