NEW DELHI: MI Emirates endured a tense finish but held their nerve as Romario Shepherd delivered a superb final over to seal a four-run win over Sharjah Warriorz in the ILT20 on Sunday.

UAE batter Muhammad Waseem top-scored for MI Emirates with a measured 39 off 29 balls, striking two fours and two sixes. Tom Banton’s 32 off 21 and Shepherd’s explosive unbeaten 31 off 10 pushed the side to 185, a total that eventually proved just enough despite fighting half-centuries from Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Sikander Raza.

Adil Rashid impressed with the ball for Warriorz, finishing with 3 for 32.

MI Emirates build a steady platform

Batting first, MI Emirates began cautiously, with Jonny Bairstow (37 off 24) hitting their first six only in the third over. That shot lifted the tempo briefly as they reached 49 without loss at the end of the powerplay, but Junaid Siddique removed Bairstow soon after.

Waseem then settled in, rotating the strike well and picking boundaries when needed. However, Adil Rashid swung the momentum by dismissing Nicholas Pooran (5 off 12) and then Waseem in the same over.

At 119/3 after 15 overs, MI Emirates needed a late push, and Banton and Shepherd provided exactly that.

Warriorz fight back before Shepherd seals it

Warriorz slipped to 48/3 by the end of their powerplay. Kohler-Cadmore and Raza then lifted the chase with a brilliant 103-run stand in 59 balls before Allah Ghazanfar broke through, removing Raza and dismissing Dwaine Pretorius next ball to claim a two-wicket maiden.

Despite the renewed hope for MI Emirates, Warriorz stayed in the contest until the end. But Shepherd’s calm and accurate final over shut the door, guiding MI Emirates to their first win of the season.

(With PTI Inputs)