‘Vintage Tahir does it again’ – Fans rejoice over Imran Tahir’s terrific spell of bowling for MI Emirates against Sharjah Warriors
MI Emirates played the second game in the International League T20 (ILT20) 2023 against the Sharjah Warriors. The match was played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Warriors won the toss and opted to bowl first. Batting first, Emirates were led by a stroke-filled 71 off 39 balls from star UAE batter Muhammad Wasim with five fours and five sixes. Nicholas Pooran also complemented with a knock 49 off 30 balls with two fours and four sixes.
The finishing touches were provided by the West Indies pros Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo who scored 22 off 13 balls with one four and two sixes. Bravo also played a lovely cameo at the end consisting of 21 runs off 10 balls with three fours and a six. This ensured that the Emirates got 204-5 in their 20 overs. Chris Woakes picked up 2-23 in his four overs and was the best bowler for Warriors.
Sharjah Warriors could only score 155-9 in the second innings.
The Sharjah Warriors were simply not up to the task as despite a quickfire innings from Rahamanullah Gurbaz at the top who scored 43 off 31 balls with seven fours, Emirates bowlers put Warriors under pressure with early wickets and they were tottering at 64-4. Then Imran Tahir came into the attack and picked up 3-26 in his four overs. This included the wickets of Tom Kohler Cadmore, Joe Denly and Mohammad Nabi.
This spell for the South African veteran ensured that the Warriors could not get back into the game. They were staring down the barrel as 102-8. They could have been bowled out cheaply if not for Chris Woakes who played a wonderful innings of 62 off 29 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Warriors scored just 155-9 in the end giving Emirates a 49-run win. Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up 2-27 in his four overs. Bravo picked up 2-13 in his two overs.
With his game-changing spell of 3-26, Tahir has done it yet again as he has impressed in the International League T20. The old warhorse in Tahir has proved that he is ageing like fine wine and that he can still deliver the goods for his side. Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter.
Imran Tahir and Dwayne Bravo could be 50 and they will still be taking wickets in T20 cricket.
3 for Imran Tahir
2 for Dj Bravo with 2 overs to bowl still— M. Sarosh Ebrahim (@msarosh) January 14, 2023
Imran Tahir's inspiration 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/9ynSIQf0cH
— Mustafa Moudi (@Mustafamoudi) January 6, 2023
https://twitter.com/ImDL45/status/1614314601876983812?s=20&t=LdJRqe8ZoINVYpdpmn-RRg
A big this for @MIEmirates … surely a very strong team. Imran Tahir and Bravo again showed that age is just a number in cricket. 4 overs 3 wickets for just 26 runs for Tahir while Bravo gets 2 for 13. #MIAEvSW @ILT20ONZEE
#CricketOnZee #HarBallBawaal #BawaalMachneWalaHai— G. S. Vivek (@GSV1980) January 14, 2023
@MIEmirates
Imran Tahir just reached Mars by running after taking the wicket of Kohler Cadmore.Elon Musk : 0
Imran Tahir : 1#DPWorldILT20— 𝑴𝒓. 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕 (@parthology) January 14, 2023
From the celebration of imran tahir….
Looks like a 18 year boy celebrating
😁😁😁 @MIEmirates #MIEvsSW #ImranTahir @ILT20Official #iltt20— Swaraj Wankhede 🇮🇳 (@CrickySwaraj) January 14, 2023
Imran Tahir's celebration is evergreen!#DPWorldILT20 #MIEvSW #CricketonZee @ilt20onzee. pic.twitter.com/9lxYW3RKWc
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 14, 2023
43 Year old Imran Tahir Still picking wickets and taking Sprints ! Evergreen Celebrationspic.twitter.com/zcM3NOAVCS
— 🎰 (@StanMSD) January 14, 2023
Imran Tahir at the age of 43,bowled a firey spell of 3/26 in ILT20 for the @MIEmirates .Same energy,same aggression, same commitment. Unreal player!!Champion👏. #ILT20 #SKSViews
— Suryaa K Sridhar (@Suryaa_18) January 14, 2023
Vintage Imran Tahir on a roll in Abu Dhabi . 💥 @MIEmirates 💙 @ImranTahirSA @ILT20Official pic.twitter.com/iU5MP1x6IM
— Satyam Shekhar (@satyamshekhar_) January 14, 2023
