Match Details:
Date: February 3, 2023
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Live Commentary: SportsTiger App
Preview:
The 26th match of the league will bring third-placed MI Emirates will be up against out-of-contention Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, on February 3, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Both the teams are coming into this game on the back of defeats and would be desperate to register a win. Knight Riders had an unprecedented inaugural season as they are yet to win a single game. Let's check out the match prediction for the Emirates vs Riders game.
Pitch Report:
The surface at Sheikh Zayed Stadium is a pretty sporting and we can see batters and spinners making most of the impact in the game. The average 1st inning total at this ground is 162 runs. The boundaries are also not huge here, so we can expect a high-scoring encounter.
Team Analysis:
Sunil Narine-led Abu Dhabi Knight Riders would have suffered a horrific batting collapse if wicketkeeper batter Joe Clarke had not played a blistering knock of 52 in just 27 balls. Even the skipper Narine too made a valuable contribution in the last game with his 13-ball 23. The bowlers failed once again to pose challenges as Dubai Capitals registered an easy win in that game. Winless Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have a daunting task ahead of them in the form of MI Emirates.
Speaking of Kieron Pollard & Co., Emirates were also outplayed by Gulf Giants in the last game as they could not add enough runs on board. Nicholas Pooran's 42 helped the side somehow put 139 on board. Although Dwayne Bravo tried to push the Giants at the backfoot with his two wickets, collective batting performance from Giants turned the game on its head. Emirates has been playing good cricket in the competition, but they need to show some consistency as the going gets tougher.
Probable playing XI:
MI Emirates:
Andre Fletcher, Muhammad Waseem, Basil Hameed, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Najibullah Zadran, Kieron Pollard (c), Dwayne Bravo, Jordan Thompson, Trent Boult, Imran Tahir, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders:
Paul Stirling, Brandon King, Joe Clarke (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Sunil Narine (c), Akeal Hosein, Zawar Farid, Lahiru Kumara, Matiullah Khan
Match Prediction: 
Conclusion:
MI Emirates are clear favorites in this game and most likely they will register an easy victory against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
Download SportsTiger app to follow all the latest sports news and updates
Disclaimer: The fantasy tips and facts expressed within this article are the author's personal opinions. They do not reflect the views of SportsTiger. It is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn. SportsTiger does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.