Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman played a pivotal role in Dubai Capitals’ commanding 83-run triumph over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the International League T20 at the Dubai International Stadium. His precise and economical bowling, coupled with timely breakthroughs, proved decisive in restricting the Knight Riders to a modest total.
Mustafizur returned impressive figures of two wickets for 22 runs from three overs, delivering 11 dot balls and maintaining a tight line throughout. His scalps included top-scorer Phil Salt, who managed only 27 before succumbing to a cleverly disguised cutter, and former Indian international Unmukt Chand, who was dismissed without scoring.
Earlier, Dubai Capitals had posted a competitive 186 for four, with Rovman Powell providing the innings’ highlight. Powell smashed a powerful 96 off just 52 deliveries, anchoring the total and giving the Capitals a solid platform. In reply, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders struggled under the weight of disciplined bowling, collapsing to 103 in 15.3 overs. Mustafizur’s performance ensured that the opposition never gained momentum, conceding only five runs in his opening spell and seven in his final over.
The Bangladesh pacer’s consistency across matches has been remarkable. Combined with his previous outing against Gulf Giants, Mustafizur has now taken four wickets in two games while conceding just 48 runs, highlighting his importance to the Capitals’ bowling attack.
The table below summarises Mustafizur Rahman’s performance in the first two matches of the tournament:
| Match | Overs | Runs Conceded | Wickets | Dot Balls | Key Dismissals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs Gulf Giants | 3 | 26 | 2 | 12 | — |
| vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 3 | 22 | 2 | 11 | Phil Salt, Unmukt Chand |
Mustafizur’s disciplined spell, especially his ability to bowl dot balls under pressure, was instrumental in breaking partnerships and stemming the flow of runs. With such performances, he has once again proven himself as one of the tournament’s most valuable bowlers, capable of turning matches in his team’s favour.
Dubai Capitals will hope to build on this momentum as the tournament progresses, with Mustafizur’s lethal combination of accuracy, pace, and deception forming a key pillar of their strategy.