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Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium delivered a nerve-jangling spectacle as Sharjah Warriorz edged Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by four wickets off the final ball in Match 25 of ILT20 2025-26. A low-scoring thriller swung repeatedly before Warriorz, anchored by James Rew and finished by Adil Rashid, hunted down 135 to keep their playoff hopes flickering.
Ethan D’Souza takes an incredible diving catch to dismiss Unmukt Chand in ILT20 game
Having been reduced to 10 for 4 inside the first four overs after a new-ball burst from Taskin Ahmed and Wasim Akram, Knight Riders clawed their way back through a stabilising stand between Sherfane Rutherford and Unmukt Chand. Rutherford’s 44 off 36 balls and Chand’s 24 off 22 deliveries rebuilt the innings from a perilous 48 for 5 to 100 for 6, setting up a potential late surge.
That revival was dramatically halted in the 18th over when Ethan D’Souza produced a jaw-dropping diving catch at deep midwicket to end Chand’s stay. Rashid tossed up a googly on a back-of-length line, Chand swivel-pulled towards the leg-side fence, and D’Souza, sprinting hard to his left, flung himself full-stretch to complete a two-handed grab inches from the turf, a moment that instantly went viral in highlight packages. The dismissal left Chand gone for 24 with Knight Riders sliding to 102 for 7 in 17.2 overs, once again exposing their fragile lower order.
Rashid, who had already choked the scoring with his variations, capitalised on the breakthrough to run through the tail. He removed Andre Russell for a 12-ball 18 with another boundary‑riding take involving D’Souza, before Jason Holder’s six-ball 14 also ended in the deep, completing figures of 3 for 18 as Knight Riders were restricted to 134 for 9. With only 6 extras and just one partnership crossing 50, the hosts finished below par despite Russell’s late blows and Rutherford’s resistance.
Here’s the video:
When fielding steals the show 🎬
D’Souza dives, Chand departs, and pressure piles on ADKR 👀
— FanCode (@FanCode)
Also WATCH: Shimron Hetmyer pulls off a stunning grab to dismiss Nicholas Pooran in ILT20 2025-26
Sharjah Warriorz clinch last-ball victory against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Chasing 135, Warriorz began nervously as Jason Holder and youngster Ajay Kumar struck inside the powerplay to remove Johnson Charles, Monank Patel and then Tom Abell, leaving the visitors 44 for 3. Tom Kohler-Cadmore and captain Sikandar Raza focused on consolidation on a holding Abu Dhabi surface, pushing Warriorz to 51 for 3 at the nine-over strategic timeout and then 78 for 4 after 14 overs, still needing 57 off 36.
The chase tilted Sharjah’s way when Rew and Raza added a brisk 50-run stand off 32 balls, counterattacking Russell and Olly Stone and taking calculated risks against Sunil Narine. Raza’s 28 off 25 with one four and one six ended at 122 for 5 in the final over of Narine’s spell, but Rew held firm, finishing unbeaten on 42 off 29 balls with four fours and a six to keep the equation manageable into the death.
Knight Riders fought back with Holder removing Dwaine Pretorius at 123 for 6, forcing Warriorz to find 12 runs off the final over with two new men, Rew and Rashid, at the crease. Russell’s over started tightly, but a crucial no-ball and a deft late dab from Rashid pushed the game to the brink before Rew’s nerveless running ensured the target was reached off the very last ball, sealing a 4-wicket win with scores level on the penultimate delivery. Rashid’s all-round impact – 3 for 18 with the ball and 2 not out in the chase – earned him Player of the Match, while D’Souza’s spectacular catch supplied the enduring image of a gripping ILT20 finale under lights in Abu Dhabi.
