🏏🔥 Kamindu Mendis & Fazalhaq Farooqi Destroy Abu Dhabi Knight Riders — MI Emirates Cruise to a 7-Wicket Statement Win
🌟 ILT20 2025 Match Report, Tactical Breakdown, Player Analysis, Reactions & More
The International League T20 (ILT20) 2025 witnessed another blockbuster clash as MI Emirates crushed Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) by 7 wickets, finishing the chase in just 13.5 overs. It was a night that belonged to Kamindu Mendis, the Sri Lankan spin wizard, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan’s left-arm pace destroyer — both combining for 7 wickets in a ruthless dismantling of ADKR.
A target of 122 was never going to challenge a batting lineup featuring Jonny Bairstow, Nicholas Pooran, Tom Banton, and Muhammad Waseem, but the ruthless professionalism with which they chased it down made a clear statement:
📢 MI Emirates have arrived. They are not here to participate — they are here to dominate.
This long-form Cricketory-style blog breaks down every moment, every turning point, every tactical detail, and every player battle that shaped this match.
🏟️ MATCH SUMMARY
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 122 all out (19.3)
MI Emirates: 123/3 (13.5)
Result: MI Emirates win by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Fazalhaq Farooqi – 4/14
Support Act: Kamindu Mendis – 3/21
🔥 MATCH OVERVIEW — MI EMIRATES SEND A WARNING
From the very first over, MI Emirates looked like a side playing at a level far above their opponents.
Precision.
Discipline.
Aggression.
A killer instinct rarely seen in T20 leagues.
ADKR’s innings was a mix of:
❌ Poor shot selection
❌ Zero footwork
❌ No partnerships
❌ Misreading Mendis
❌ Failure against Farooqi’s angle
MI Emirates never had to break a sweat.
🎯 POWERPLAY FAROOQI & SHEPHERD LAND BODY BLOWS
PowerPlay Score:
ADKR – 25/2 in 4 overs
MI Emirates struck early:
🗡️ Fazalhaq Farooqi removes Phil Salt (7)
A classic left-armer setup:
- Outswingers to drag Salt across
- Seam-up delivery angling in
- Timber gone
Farooqi’s angle was too good for Salt, who looked rushed from ball one.
💥 Romario Shepherd dismisses Alex Hales (12)
Hales, trying to counterattack, miscued a big hit — and MI secured two big wickets inside 20 balls.
ADKR were rattled.
And then came the real damage…
🎩 MIDDLE OVERS KAMINDU MENDIS DESTROYS ADKR
At 49/2, the Knight Riders looked stable.
Then Kamindu Mendis entered the chat.
🎯 Wickets in quick succession:
8th Over:
✔️ Brandon McMullen — bowled
10th Over:
✔️ Liam Livingstone — caught
(Livingstone had no clue about the drift)
11th Over:
✔️ Sherfane Rutherford — trapped
Mendis ripped through the heart of the batting order with drift, dip, and angles the batters simply could not pick.
📉 ADKR went from 49/2 ➝ 74/5 in just 16 balls.
Mendis’ spell changed the match completely.
💥 TAIL-END COLLAPSE FAROOQI RETURNS WITH FIRE
Just when ADKR looked like they could somehow reach 140+, MI Emirates deployed their closer:
🔥 Fazalhaq Farooqi (2nd Spell)
He cleaned up the lower order ruthlessly:
✔️ Jason Holder
✔️ Kharry Pierre
✔️ Ajay Kumar
The pace, angle, and yorker accuracy were impossible to handle.
"This is elite T20 bowling,"
said commentators during the telecast.
Rashid Khan also played a role by removing Alishan Sharfu, who top-scored with 38.
ADKR collapsed from 101/6 ➝ 122 all out.
🚀 THE CHASE BANTON & BAIRSTOW BURY ADKR
MI Emirates began their chase with aggression.
🔥 Muhammad Waseem & Jonny Bairstow — 33-run PowerPlay stand
Waseem departed for 18, but Bairstow looked in prime English white-ball mode:
💥 Cuts
💥 Pulls
💥 Inside-out lofts
💥 Zero risk cricket
Nicholas Pooran fell cheaply (c. 5 runs), but MI Emirates never slowed down.
⭐ The 64-run partnership
Bairstow + Tom Banton
This stand killed the match completely.
Banton played the perfect supporting hand, rotating strike and punishing bad balls.
When Banton fell for 29 (20), MI needed just 13 runs — and the man of the moment stepped out:
🎯 Kamindu Mendis hits the winning six
MI Emirates:
123/3 (13.5)
Cruising. Dominating. Untouchable.
🧠 TACTICAL BREAKDOWN WHY MI EMIRATES WERE UNSTOPPABLE
✔️ 1. PowerPlay Strategy
Two wicket-taking bowlers (Farooqi + Shepherd)
No freebies
Bodyline + swing combo
✔️ 2. Mendis bowling in the middle overs
He bowled at the exact time when ADKR’s best hitters were in.
Perfect matchup-based planning.
✔️ 3. Seam-support from Rashid
Rashid didn't take many wickets, but his choking lines allowed Mendis to attack.
✔️ 4. Aggressive chase mentality
EMI didn’t waste overs.
They always targeted:
⚡ Olly Stone
⚡ Pierre
⚡ Kumar
💔 WHAT WENT WRONG FOR ADKR?
❌ 1. No stability after early wickets
Livingstone, Rutherford — all played high-risk shots.
❌ 2. Poor reading of Mendis
No batter tried to sweep or use the crease.
❌ 3. No second PowerPlay acceleration
From overs 6-12, ADKR scored only 25 runs and lost 4 wickets.
❌ 4. Bowling lacked venom
Holder bowled well.
Narine tried.
But Stone, Pierre, and Ajay Kumar leaked heavily.
⭐ PLAYER RATINGS (Cricketory Style)
| Player | Rating | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10 | 4/14, unplayable |
| Kamindu Mendis | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9 | 3/21, destroyed middle order |
| Jonny Bairstow | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8 | 49*, anchor & striker |
| Tom Banton | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6 | Fast 29, perfect support |
| Muhammad Waseem | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 | Quick start |
| Jason Holder | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6 | Best ADKR bowler |
| Narine | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6 | Controlled spell |
| Sharfu | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7 | Top scorer |
📊 KEY STATS & RECORDS
📌 MI Emirates’ fastest chase of ILT20 2025
📌 Farooqi’s 4/14 — Best bowling figures of the season
📌 Mendis’ spell — Best middle overs impact (3 wickets in 17 balls)
📌 ADKR lowest score of ILT20 2025 (122)
🔥 CRICKETORY INSIGHTS & DEEP ANALYSIS
🎯 Insight 1: Mendis is becoming T20’s most underrated spin all-rounder
His ability to bowl at different angles makes him deadly.
🎯 Insight 2: Farooqi is evolving into an elite new-ball + death overs threat
The maturity in his spells is world-class.
🎯 Insight 3: ADKR’s team balance is broken
Too many hitters.
Not enough stabilizers.
🎯 Insight 4: MI Emirates have a title-winning bowling attack
On par with top IPL teams.
📣 FANS’ REACTIONS (SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ)
💬 “Farooqi is bowling like prime Starc!”
💬 “Mendis is a cheat code in ILT20.”
💬 “ADKR need a complete rebuild.”
💬 “MI Emirates = mini-Mumbai Indians. Class everywhere.”
💬 “Bairstow still the king of fast chases!”
🧑🏫 EXPERTS’ COMMENTS
🗣️ Simon Doull:
“Farooqi is among the best left-arm T20 bowlers in the world. Simple.”
🗣️ Sanjay Manjrekar:
“Mendis is the kind of spinner teams dream of having in UAE conditions.”
🗣️ Tom Moody:
“Knight Riders were tactically outplayed from ball one.”
❓ FAQs
Q1. Who was the Player of the Match?
A: Fazalhaq Farooqi for his brilliant 4/14.
Q2. Why did ADKR collapse?
A: Middle-order failed against spin, and poor shot selection.
Q3. Who top-scored in the match?
A: Jonny Bairstow (49*).
Q4. How many wickets did Mendis take?
A: 3 wickets for 21 runs.
Q5. How many overs did EMI take to chase the target?
A: Only 13.5 overs.
🏁 FINAL VERDICT
MI Emirates delivered a masterclass — tactically, mentally and technically.
Mendis spun ADKR into knots.
Farooqi broke their spirit.
Bairstow and Banton completed the demolition.
A champion performance from a champion side.
If they continue playing like this…
🏆 ILT20 2025 might already have its favourites.