The 8th match of the International League T20 (ILT20), 2025, will see Sharjah Warriors (SW) take on Dubai Capitals (DC) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Sharjah Warriors are coming off a 30-run loss against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and need to improve their batting performance. On the other hand, Dubai Capitals suffered a comprehensive defeat to MI Emirates but showed promise in individual performances, particularly from Shai Hope.
Match Overview
- Date: January 17, 2025
- Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
- Conditions: Clear skies, mild breeze, and favorable for cricket.
- Toss Prediction: The team winning the toss is likely to bowl first, given the past success of chasing teams at this venue.
Team Previews
Sharjah Warriors (SW)
Sharjah Warriors have struggled with consistency, especially in their batting. While their bowling unit, led by Adil Rashid and Adam Milne, has delivered in patches, the batting lineup has underperformed.
Key Performances (Last Match):
- Batting:
- Tim Southee: 24 off 11 (SR: 218.18)
- Keemo Paul: 21 off 16 (SR: 131.25)
- Bowling:
- Adil Rashid: 2/14 in 4 overs (Economy: 3.5)
- Adam Milne: 2/37 in 4 overs
Strengths:
- A solid bowling unit capable of exploiting Sharjah’s spin-friendly surface.
- Experienced T20 players like Jason Roy and Johnson Charles at the top of the order.
Weaknesses:
- Lack of middle-order contributions.
- Over-reliance on individual performances.
Predicted XI:
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore
- Johnson Charles (wk)
- Jason Roy
- Rohan Mustafa
- Karim Janat
- Keemo Paul
- Harmeet Singh
- Adil Rashid
- Muhammad Jawadullah
- Tim Southee (c)
- Adam Milne
Dubai Capitals (DC)
Despite losing their last game, Dubai Capitals showed promise, especially through Shai Hope’s century. However, their bowling needs to tighten up to contain strong opposition.
Key Performances (Last Match):
- Batting:
- Shai Hope: 101 off 59 (SR: 171.19)
- Brandon McMullen: 16 off 19
- Bowling:
- Gulbadin Naib: 3/18 in 3 overs
- Olly Stone: 2/31 in 4 overs
Strengths:
- Shai Hope’s exceptional form with the bat.
- A well-rounded bowling attack featuring Gulbadin Naib and Olly Stone.
Weaknesses:
- Overdependence on Hope for runs.
- Inconsistent middle-order performances.
Predicted XI:
- Shai Hope (wk)
- Brandon McMullen
- Sikandar Raza (c)
- Rovman Powell
- Dasun Shanaka
- Gulbadin Naib
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Olly Stone
- Farhan Khan
- Haider Ali
- Zahir Khan
Pitch & Weather Report
Pitch Conditions:
The pitch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium typically supports spinners due to its slow nature, but batters can score freely with proper shot selection. A first-innings score of around 160-170 is par on this ground.
Weather Conditions:
- Temperature: 19°C–21°C
- Rain: 0% chance
- Wind: Light breeze from the southwest
Key Match Insights
- Head-to-Head Advantage:
Dubai Capitals have a stronger lineup on paper and players in better form, giving them a slight edge over Sharjah Warriors. - Bowling Match-Up:
Both teams boast experienced bowlers. Adil Rashid and Adam Milne for SW can trouble DC, while Gulbadin Naib and Olly Stone are key for DC. - Toss Dynamics:
Chasing has proven successful at Sharjah, so both captains will likely prefer to bowl first.
Winning Prediction
Dubai Capitals look better poised to win this match due to:
- Shai Hope’s exceptional form.
- A more balanced all-round lineup.
- Sharjah Warriors’ struggling batting performances.
Predicted Winner: Dubai Capitals
Predicted Scores
- If SW Bat First: 140-150
- If DC Bat First: 160-170
Will Dubai Capitals capitalize on their form, or can Sharjah Warriors turn things around? Let’s find out in this thrilling ILT20 encounter!