ILT20 2023, Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Match 1 - Talking Points and Who Said What?

The opening game of the International League T20 turned out to be a one-sided contest as Rovman Powell's Dubai Capitals rout Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 73 runs to send a warning shot to the rest of the league. Powell led from the front for the Capitals, who finished with a strong total of 187 runs on a Dubai pitch that had something for the bowlers.

The Knight Riders never looked in the game, deflated after conceding such a stiff total. Paul Stirling waged a lone war against the Capitals' bowlers, who were shrewd with their line and length and subtle variations.

As the Dubai Capitals completed a resounding victory in the curtain raiser against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, let us look at the talking points from the campaign opener before listening to the comments of the two skippers.

The Rovman-Raza show

Dubai Capitals got off to a decent start with a solid opening stand between Robin Uthappa and Joe Root. But a flurry of wickets had them reeling at the halfway stage. However, that is when the Capitals' skipper Rovman Powell and mercurial all-rounder Sikandar Raza earned their big bucks. The duo smashed a blistering stand for the fourth wicket, propelling their side to a handsome total in the campaign opener.

A no-show from the Knight Riders

The target set by the Dubai Capitals was stiff and needed some chasing, but the Knight Riders surrendered rather meekly in a lackluster batting display that saw just two of their batters cross double figures in the match. Veteran Irish opener Paul Stirling was the lone warrior for his side, registering a typically swashbuckling half-century. If only he had gotten some support from the other end, especially from the likes of Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, the game could've turned into a spectacle.

Winning skipper and POTM Rovman Powell said:

I think we went well. The info the guys sent while batting was useful. We were looking at 150 and we got 180. They have two quality spinners, so we tried to save wickets and extend at the back end with our power-hitters. The local lads were excellent. Bowled four overs each and that shows there is a lot of talent here in the UAE. I think it's just the make up of the team, so I bowled. I had a good day with the bat, so I thought I could chance my arm too. We can still improve in a few areas as a team. Good to start the tournament with a Player of the Match award (smiles).

Losing skipper Sunil Narine said:

I think we started well with the ball but we bowled lose deliveries at the end and they capitalized. We didn't get a big partnership with the bat, but it's just the first game and hopefully we improve from the learnings today. It was swinging for the pacers. It wasn't spinning much and it was swinging, so I tried that ball to Uthappa and got him. I have been working on it for a while.