MI Emirates Edge Dubai Capitals in Thrilling ILT20 Clash at Dubai International Stadium

MI Emirates produced a tense late-game finish to beat Dubai Capitals by seven runs at Dubai International Stadium, defending 137/8 in a pivotal International League T20 (ILT20) Group B encounter that lifted the Emirates franchise above the Capitals in the points table.

MI Emirates’ innings was anchored by an aggressive half-century from Jonny Bairstow, who scored a fluent 50 off 30 balls as he put together a 48-run partnership with Nicholas Pooran to steer his side to a defendable 137/8 in 20 overs. [1]

In the chase, Dubai Capitals started positively, with Shayan Jahangir and Jordan Cox counter-attacking in the powerplay to keep the required rate manageable early on [1]. Cox finished as the top scorer for the Capitals with a 40s contribution that kept them in the hunt, but critical breakthroughs from MI Emirates’ bowling unit — notably two quick wickets by Naveen-ul-Haq in the middle overs and two for Rashid Khan — tilted momentum back to MI Emirates [1][2].

The Capitals eventually collapsed to 130 all out in 20 overs, falling seven runs short of the target; key MI Emirates bowlers Romario Shepherd and Rashid Khan both returned important figures that stifled the late chase [1][2].

The result moved MI Emirates to six points and leapfrogged Dubai Capitals into third place in Group B of the ILT20 standings, a noteworthy shift in an otherwise tight mid-table battle as teams jostle for semi-final positioning [1].

Match details and full scorecards are available on official scorekeeping platforms and major sports outlets, which list toss information, full batting and bowling figures and timing for the night fixture held on 17 December 2025 at Dubai International Stadium [2][3][4].

Reactions from both camps emphasized the fine margins in T20 cricket: MI Emirates praised disciplined bowling and timely batting, while the Capitals reflected on missed opportunities in the death overs and the need for more depth to sustain a chase in sub-140 targets [1][4].

Highlights and condensed match footage have been published by broadcasters and the ILT20’s digital partners for fans who missed the live action, showing Bairstow’s counter-attacking half-century and the decisive wickets late in the chase [5][6].

Contextually, the result is significant for both franchises’ ILT20 campaigns: MI Emirates’ win gives them momentum and breathing space in the race for the top four, while Dubai Capitals will need to regroup quickly if they are to recover ground in what remains of the group stage [1][4].

For readers seeking ball-by-ball data and individual statistics, comprehensive scorecards and match reports from ESPN, Cricket World and other live-score services provide complete numerical detail and post-match analysis [2][3][4].