Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants, Match 16 – A Thrilling ILT20 Clash

The Sharjah Warriorz snagged a tight 11-run win against the Gulf Giants at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on December 15, 2025, in the ILT20 2025/26 season. It was a night game where the Warriorz made 175 runs and managed to defend that, thanks to some good batting and sharp bowling.

Quick Recap

After losing the toss, the Gulf Giants decided to let Sharjah Warriorz bat first. Tom Abell played a great innings, and Dwaine Pretorius chipped in with some quick runs. The Warriorz ended up with 174/6 after 20 overs, setting a tough target.

The Gulf Giants tried to chase it down, but couldn’t put together enough solid partnerships, even though Moeen Ali and Azmatullah Omarzai tried their best. They finished with 163/9, just 11 runs short. The game swung back and forth, but the Warriorz grabbed the key wickets when it mattered.

How the Sharjah Warriorz Batted

The Warriorz didn’t start too fast. Tom Kohler-Cadmore got 6 runs, and Johnson Charles added 12. Tom Abell was the star, smashing 68 off 41 balls with five fours and three sixes.

James Rew gave good support with 39 runs, and Dwaine Pretorius blasted 28 off just 13 balls near the end. Sikandar Raza’s 9 runs were important, and Ethan D’Souza stayed not out with 8, helping them reach a decent total of 174/6.

They also got some extra runs from a leg bye and three wides. They saved Matheesha Pathirana, Wasim Akram, and Taskin Ahmed to bowl later.

How the Gulf Giants Batted

The Gulf Giants had a bad start, losing Pathum Nissanka early for 3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz looked good for his 30 off 15, but then Matheesha Pathirana got him out. James Vince and Kyle Mayers didn’t score much, leaving the team struggling at 38/3.

Moeen Ali scored 45 runs and Azmatullah Omarzai got 41, adding some much-needed runs. Losing wickets too regularly hurt them. Aayan Afzal Khan and Fred Klaassen added a few runs at the end, but it weren’t enough.

The Giants also gave away eight wides, which didn’t help.

Top Players

Matheesha Pathirana from Sharjah Warriorz was named Player of the Match. Tom Abell was also a key player with his 68 runs, and Wasim Akram took 3 wickets. Dwaine Pretorius’ runs and wickets were also vital.

Moeen Ali and Azmatullah Omarzai were the best players for the Gulf Giants.

Game Story

Both teams tried to score quickly at the start. The Warriorz were 54/2 after six overs, and the Giants were 44/4. The runs went up and down in the middle overs, and the last few overs decided the game.

The Warriorz scored 32 runs and took three wickets in the last three overs, which meant the Giants didn’t reach the total.

What it Means

Sharjah Warriorz now have 4 points in the ILT20 table. Gulf Giants still have 6 points. Desert Vipers are still winning every game, while Dubai Capitals and MI Emirates are in the middle. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are near the bottom.

In Short

The Sharjah Warriorz won because of good bowling, strong batting, and good fielding. Tom Abell and Matheesha Pathirana played really well, and it shows how important it is to have solid partnerships in T20 cricket.

Match Details:

• Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium

• Date: December 15, 2025

• Time: 18:30 start, Night Match

• Series: International League T20 2025/26

• Toss: Gulf Giants elected to field

• Player of the Match: Matheesha Pathirana (SW)

• Cricinfo MVP: Tom Abell (SW)

• Umpires: Gazi Sohel (Bangladesh), Rod Tucker (Australia)

• TV Umpire: Paul Wilson (Australia)

• Reserve Umpire: Shiju Sam (UAE)

• Match Referee: Simon Taufel (Australia)

• Impact Players: Azmatullah Omarzai (GG), Matheesha Pathirana (SW)

• Points Awarded: Sharjah Warriorz 2, Gulf Giants 0