Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman produced a spectacular bowling display on Wednesday, taking three wickets in a single over to leave fans and commentators alike in awe. The performance came in the International League T20 (ILT20) clash between Dubai Capitals and MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium, a day after Mustafizur had been bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹9.2 crore at the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi.
This match marked Mustafizur’s fifth appearance in the ILT20 this season. In his previous four matches, he had taken a total of six wickets, but never more than two in a single game. Today, however, he went on to deliver a game-changing spell in the 18th over of the innings, dismissing three key batsmen while conceding only one run.
The left-armer’s match began modestly. Bowling his second over in the innings, he was punished for two fours by Johnny Bairstow, finishing the over with 10 runs. Returning in the 16th over, he conceded just six runs (including one wide) off Kamindu Mendis and Tom Banton.
Then came the defining 18th over. Mustafizur opened with an off-cutter that saw Rashid Khan caught at mid-off by Dasun Shanaka (3 balls, 1 run). His third delivery, a slower ball, removed Banton at mid-wicket, caught by Du Plessis (11 balls, 5 runs). On the fifth ball, AM Gajanfor edged an off-stump delivery to Du Plessis at slip, departing for 2 runs. In just five balls, Mustafizur had taken three crucial wickets, nearly turning the game decisively in favour of the Dubai Capitals.
He could have added a fourth wicket in the same over, when Romario Shepherd offered a catch at the boundary, but the ball was dropped by Cox. Mustafizur concluded his four-over spell with figures of 4-0-34-3, demonstrating both control and skill.
MI Emirates managed 137/8 in their 20 overs. In reply, Dubai Capitals fell short, all out for 130, losing by seven runs. Mustafizur himself contributed 1 run before being run out, but his lethal spell with the ball remained the highlight of the match.
Mustafizur Rahman’s Bowling Summary – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates
| Overs | Runs Conceded | Wickets | Key Dismissals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | 10 | 0 | Johnny Bairsto hit 2 fours |
| 16th | 6 | 0 | Kamindu Mendis, Tom Banton |
| 18th | 1 | 3 | Rashid Khan, Banton, AM Gajanfor |
| 20th | 17 | 0 | Romario Shepherd missed catch |
| Total | 34 | 3 | — |
Match Result: MI Emirates 137/8 (20 overs) – Dubai Capitals 130 all out (20 overs). Dubai Capitals lost by 7 runs.