SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, CMC – West Indies opener Johnson Charles played a vital role in the run chase as Sharjah Warriors beat Jason Holder’s Dubai Capitals by nine wickets to move into second spot in the ILT20 standings here Monday.
The 35-year-old Charles, who will feature for the Caribbean side in next month’s three-match Twenty20 series against hosts Australia, top-scored with an unbeaten 43 off 33 deliveries to help the Warriors overhaul a paltry target of 105 with nearly seven overs to spare at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Choosing to bat first, Capitals were dismissed for 104 in the penultimate over, with Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza top-scoring with 22 from 25 balls and Dutchman Roelof van der Merwe chipping in with 21 from 14 balls.
West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell (10) and Holder (1) both fell cheaply to leave the innings in tatters on 62 for seven in the 13th over, leaving Raza and van der Merwe to attempt repairs in a 23-run, eighth wicket stand – the best of the innings.
Sri Lankan off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana (4-20) and Australian left-arm seamer Daniel Sams (3-28) combined to wreck the innings.
In reply, the right-handed Charles laid the platform for the successful run chase, lashing four fours and a six as he put on 70 for the first wicket with Sri Lankan Niroshan Dickwella (37) and a further 35 in an unbroken second wicket stand with Englishman Joe Denly (23 not out).
Warriors lie two points behind MI Emirates (8) with three wins and two defeats.
and then 