The West Indies trio of Andre Russell, Jason Holder, and Sunil Narine starred with the ball to help the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders defeat the Gulf Giants by 32 runs and book their spot in the International League T20 playoffs in the United Arab Emirates.
Sent in to bat at Dubai, openers Michael Pepper and Phil Salt struck half-centuries, helping the Knight Riders post a competitive 179 for one from 20 overs.
Player-of-the-Match Pepper top-scored with 83 off 51 balls, inclusive of six fours and four sixes, while Salt hit an unbeaten 72 off 56 balls, inclusive of four sixes and two fours, during an opening partnership of 131 in 15 overs.
Needing a win to reach the playoffs, captain Holder dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck and James Vince for 19, reducing the Gulf Giants to 24 for two.
With these two wickets, Holder set a new record for most T20 wickets in a single calendar year in 2025.
The 34-year-old Barbadian finished the year with 97 wickets, eclipsing the previous record of 96 wickets held by Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan since 2018.
As the game continued, Russell and Narine then ran through the rest of the batters, as the Giants were only able to muster 147 for nine from their 20 overs.
At 107 for four in the 15th over, Russell and Narine claimed the next five wickets, including Kyle Mayers for six.
Russell ended with 3-13 from his two overs, Narine took 2-14, and Holder 2-24.
The crucial win confirmed the Knight Riders’ progression to the playoffs.
