WATCH: UAE pacer Farhan Khan displays nerves of steel while bowling last over to Kieron Pollard, ekes out 1-run win for his side

United Arab Emirates (UAE) pacer Farhan Khan did the star turn with the ball during the opening game of ILT20 on Saturday. The 20-year-old was tasked with defending 13 runs in the final over of the innings against Kieron Pollard. In the end MI Emirates fell short by 1 run to give Dubai Capitals a close win to begin the season on a high. 

With 13 runs needed from six balls, Farhan began with a dot ball and followed it up with a wide. The second ball of the over was yet another dot ball as MI Emirates now needed 12 runs from four balls. Kieron Pollard swung his bat to get a key boundary to make it 8 runs needed from three balls. 

A debutant from UAE. A proven finisher with decades of experience.

On a night where the stakes are high, young Farhan Khan comes out on top and denies Kieron Pollard a win, with only 13 runs to defend!

Where else do you see such cinema, other than at the #DPWorldILT20 😍… pic.twitter.com/aPq1Y4FTCp

— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) January 11, 2025

The young pacer showed great skill and trust in his own ability and beat Pollard for pace with a bounce. At this stage MI Emirates needed 8 runs from two balls and two runs later it was six needed off the last ball. With tensions rising, Farhan Khan bowled the perfect ball which Pollard hit for a four to hand Dubai Capitals the close win. 

Dubai Capitals hold their nerves to win close game 

Nicholas Pooran won the toss and put Dubai Capitals into bat first and saw the opposition score 133/8 from their 20 overs. Shai Hope and Adam Rossington started slow as the opening batters scored nine runs apiece. The best batter for Dubai Capitals was Scotland international Brendon McMullen. 

The 25-year-old scored 58 runs from 42 balls with the help of four boundaries and three sixes. West Indian skipper Rovman Powell was the next best batter with 25 off 20 balls with one four and two sixes. Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi was the best bowler for MI Emirates with figures of 5/16 from his four overs. 

In their reply, MI Emirates began poorly with their score reading 23/4 at one stage. Muhammad Waseem and Andre Fletcher were out for ducks. Kusal Perera was out after scoring 12 while Tom Banton perished for 7 runs. Nicholas Pooran and Akeal Hossein joined forces to add 79 runs for the 5th wicket in 64 balls. 

That stand was broken when Gulbadin Naib got the wicket of Hossein for 30 runs. The veteran Afghan then got the big scalp of Pooran for 61 who was caught by Olly Stone. The West Indian batter faced 40 balls and hit three boundaries and four huge sixes. In the end Farhan Khan’s amazing bowling helped his team win the game and make an impressive start to the season.