Gulf Giants beat Dubai Capitals by 6 wickets in the 10th Match of the International League T20 2025, played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on January 18, 2025. Chasing a target of 166, the Giants knocked off the runs in 18.1 overs with a partnership of 80 off 44 balls between Gerhard Erasmus (50*) and Shimron Hetmyer (41*), sealing the victory.
This Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match scorecard tells a clean story: one team set a competitive target, and the other chased it down without breaking a sweat after the 10th over.
Match Summary Box
| Match Detail | Information |
| Match | Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals, Match 10 |
| Tournament | DP World International League T20 2025 |
| Date | January 18, 2025 |
| Venue | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| Result | Gulf Giants won by 6 wickets |
| Margin | 6 wickets (with 11 balls remaining) |
| Dubai Capitals Score | 165/7 in 20 overs |
| Gulf Giants Score | 168/4 in 18.1 overs |
| Player of the Match | Gerhard Erasmus (50* off 34 balls) |
Full Dubai Capitals Batting Scorecard
Dubai Capitals: 165/7 (20 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Shai Hope (wk) | c Vince b Adair | 28 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Ben Dunk | c Cox b Muzarabani | 28 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 133.33 |
| Brandon McMullen | c Erasmus b Adair | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 111.11 |
| Sikandar Raza | c Erasmus b Zubair | 28 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 147.37 |
| Rovman Powell | c Zadran b Kuggeleijn | 18 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | not out | 33 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 165.00 |
| Gulbadin Naib | c Adair b McCoy | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Scott Kuggeleijn | c Lyth b McCoy | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extras | (b 0, lb 2, w 4, nb 0) | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 7 wkts, 20 overs | 165 | – | – | – | – |
Fall of Wickets: 28/1 (Hope, 3.2 ov), 43/2 (Dunk, 5.2 ov), 62/3 (McMullen, 7.5 ov), 107/4 (Raza, 13.1 ov), 120/5 (Powell, 15.1 ov), 146/6 (Naib, 18.3 ov), 150/7 (Kuggeleijn, 18.5 ov)
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Dubai Capitals Bowling Scorecard (Against Gulf Giants)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Eco |
| Wahidullah Zadran | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Mark Adair | 4 | 0 | 39 | 2 | 9.75 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 4 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 5.25 |
| Muhammad Zubair Khan | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 12.00 |
| Tymal Mills | 4 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Aayan Afzal Khan | 3 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 4.00 |
Full Gulf Giants Batting Scorecard
Gulf Giants: 168/4 (18.1 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Adam Lyth | c Shanaka b F. Khan | 32 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 188.24 |
| James Vince (c) | c Naib b O. McCoy | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 90.91 |
| Jordan Cox | lbw b S. Raza | 27 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 135.00 |
| Gerhard Erasmus | not out | 50 | 34 | 6 | 1 | 147.06 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | not out | 41 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 205.00 |
| Extras | (b 0, lb 1, w 7, nb 0) | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 4 wkts, 18.1 overs | 168 | – | – | – | – |
Fall of Wickets: 33/1 (Lyth, 3.1 ov), 51/2 (Vince, 6.1 ov), 88/3 (Cox, 10.5 ov), 88/4 (Jordan Cox boundary run out 4th – match complete before 5th)
Gulf Giants Bowling Scorecard (Against Dubai Capitals)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Eco |
| Obed McCoy | 4 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 |
| Scott Kuggeleijn | 4 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 |
| Aayan Afzal Khan | 4 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Mark Adair | 4 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Tom Hartley | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.50 |
| Muhammad Zubair Khan | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 8.00 |
Match Statistics at a Glance
| Stat | Dubai Capitals | Gulf Giants |
| Total Runs | 165/7 | 168/4 |
| Run Rate | 8.25 | 9.25 |
| Powerplay Score (0–6 ov) | 51/2 | 42/2 |
| Boundaries (4s + 6s) | 19 + 5 = 24 | 15 + 6 = 21 |
| Extras | 6 | 8 |
| Highest Partnership | 46 (Raza-Shanaka) | 80* (Erasmus-Hetmyer) |
| Best Bowling | Aayan Afzal Khan 2/12 | Aayan Afzal Khan 2/12 |
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Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals Match Scorecard Key Partnerships Breakdown
Partnerships are what scorecards hide from casual viewers. They show where the match was actually built and where it was won.
Dubai Capitals Partnerships
- Hope + Dunk (1st wicket): ~28 runs – A quick start that set the tone. Both fell inside the power play, but not before putting the team in a strong position.
- McMullen + Raza (3rd–4th wicket): Raza’s 28 off 19 was the middle-order anchor. His dismissal at 107 in the 13th over removed any chance of a late acceleration into 180+.
- Raza + Shanaka (4th–5th wicket): 46 runs – The highest partnership of their innings. Shanaka’s 33 not out off 20 balls was the primary reason the total crossed 160, not settling further below it.
Gulf Giants Partnerships
- Lyth (1st wicket): 33 off 18 balls – Explosive opening stand that set early intent.
- Cox (3rd wicket): ~37 runs – After losing Vince cheaply, Cox bridged the gap and kept the chase on track at the midway point.
- Erasmus + Hetmyer (unbroken 5th wicket): 80 runs off 44 balls – This was the match-winning partnership. They scored at a strike rate of 109.09 per over between overs 11 and 18.1, reducing the required rate from 8.3 to irrelevance.
The Erasmus-Hetmyer stand was the single most decisive phase of the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match. Eighty runs off 44 balls in a chase is not just good batting. It is controlled demolition.
Match Timeline – Phase-by-Phase Breakdown
This is the clearest way to understand how the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals ILT20 scorecard actually played out.
Innings 1: Dubai Capitals Batting (Phase by Phase)
Powerplay (Overs 1–6): 51/2
Dubai Capitals attacked from the start. Both Shai Hope (28) and Ben Dunk (28) gave the innings momentum, but losing them inside the powerplay was a problem. 51/2 is respectable but vulnerable – it meant the middle order had to bat time, not just bat big.
Middle Overs (7–15): 69 runs, 3 wickets
From 51/2 to 120/5 in 15 overs, Dubai Capitals lost three wickets and scored 69 runs. The required projection at this stage was 160–170. Manageable. But the wicket of Sikandar Raza at 107 in the 13th over was the moment the total stopped growing at the rate it needed to.
Death Overs (16–20): 45 runs, 2 wickets
Shanaka’s late cameo of 33 not out pushed the total to 165. Without Shanaka, the target would have been around 145, a much easier chase. His contribution was the difference between a competitive game and a comfortable defeat for his side.
Innings 2: Gulf Giants Chase (Phase by Phase)
Powerplay (Overs 1–6): 42/2
The Giants lost Vince cheaply, but Lyth’s 32 off 17 balls kept the run rate honest. 42/2 after powerplay meant they needed 124 off 84 balls, which is an 8.86 required rate. Tough, but not dangerous for a T20 side with Erasmus and Hetmyer still to bat.
Middle Overs (7–15): 72 runs, 1 wicket
This is the phase that won the match. Between overs 7 and 15, the Gulf Giants scored approximately 72 runs and lost only Cox at 88. The required rate dropped from 8.86 to below 7.5. Erasmus began his innings here with control; Hetmyer walked in with intent. By over 15, the result was already written.
Death Overs (16–18.1): 54 runs, 0 wickets
Erasmus and Hetmyer finished it with authority. The Giants needed 54 off the final 30 balls and got them without losing a wicket. Hetmyer’s four sixes tell you what kind of finish it was – not desperate, but decisive.
The Real Turning Point in This Match
Most match reports identify a wicket as the turning point. That is usually wrong.
The real turning point of the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match came at over 13, when Aayan Afzal Khan dismissed Sikandar Raza for 28. Until that point, Dubai Capitals were on course for 175–180. The required rate dropped to 8.86 from 8.3 over the following overs, which is the difference between a dangerous chase and a manageable one.
What most people miss is that Raza was set and already at 28 off 19 balls. An extra 10–15 runs from him alone would have changed the outcome entirely. Afzal Khan’s dismissal was the most valuable bowling contribution, despite Adair taking two wickets.
Bowling That Made the Difference
Aayan Afzal Khan: 4 overs, 2/24 at an economy of 6.00 – The most cost-effective spell of the match across both teams combined. In a match where Tymal Mills went for 12 per over and Adair went for 9.75 per over, Afzal Khan’s control was the anchor that kept Dubai Capitals from running away.
Blessing Muzarabani: 4 overs, 1/21 at an economy of 5.25 – Equally impressive. The combination of Muzarabani and Afzal Khan meant the Gulf Giants saved at least 20–25 runs in the back half compared to what a flat attack would have given up.
Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals Head-to-Head Record (ILT20)
Overall Head-to-Head: Gulf Giants lead 4–2 in T20 meetings
| Match | Venue | Winner | Margin |
| Jan 2023 (Match 5, ILT20) | Dubai | Gulf Giants | 6 wickets |
| Jan 2024 (Match 11, ILT20) | Sharjah | Gulf Giants | 3 wickets |
| Jan 2025 (Match 10, ILT20) | Sharjah | Gulf Giants | 6 wickets |
| Jan 2025 (Match 16, ILT20) | Dubai | Dubai Capitals | 5 wickets |
| Dec 2025 (Match 5, ILT20 2025-26) | Dubai | Gulf Giants | 4 wickets |
| Dec 2025 (Match 23, ILT20 2025-26) | Dubai | Dubai Capitals | 6 wickets |
What the trend shows: Five of the six meetings have been decided inside the final three overs or by a margin of fewer than six wickets, which means this is consistently a close fixture. The side that controls the middle overs wins it most of the time. Neither team has dominated comprehensively, which is exactly what makes this a rivalry worth watching.
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What does this result mean for the Ulf Giants?
This match was not just a win. It was the Gulf Giants’ first victory of the ILT20 Season 3 campaign after beginning the tournament with a loss. A six-wicket win with 11 balls remaining sends a very different message to the rest of the tournament than a last-over thriller would have.
Three things this result proved:
- Gerhard Erasmus can anchor a chase at No. 4 without sacrificing strike rate.
- The bowling attack, particularly in the middle overs, has enough discipline to cap totals under 170.
- The top order has enough firepower (Lyth, 32 off 17) to set up conditions for finishers.
For Dubai Capitals, the uncomfortable truth is that a team chasing 166 should not finish the job with 11 balls to spare. Their death bowling in that match, particularly Tymal Mills at 12.00 per over, was the Achilles heel.
Player of the Match: Gerhard Erasmus
Gerhard Erasmus: 50 not out off 34 balls, 6 fours, 1 six, SR: 147.06
Erasmus was named Player of the Match, and the award was straightforward. He came in with the chase needing composure and delivered exactly that. His fifty was not flashy. It was structured: rotate strike, find boundaries on bad balls, and let Hetmyer attack from the other end.
The partnership between Erasmus and Hetmyer (80 runs off 44 balls) is what separates this innings from a mediocre chase. When two batters score 80 together in T20 cricket, and both finish not out, the bowling side has been outplayed – not just outscored.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals match in ILT20 2025?
Gulf Giants won by 6 wickets with 11 balls remaining. Dubai Capitals scored 165/7, and Gulf Giants replied with 168/4 in 18.1 overs.
What was Dubai Capitals’ full batting scorecard?
Dubai Capitals scored 165/7 in 20 overs. Top scorers: Dasun Shanaka 33*, Shai Hope 28, Ben Dunk 28, Sikandar Raza 28.
What was the Gulf Giants’ batting scorecard?
Gulf Giants scored 168/4 in 18.1 overs. Top scorers: Gerhard Erasmus 50*, Shimron Hetmyer 41*, Adam Lyth 32, Jordan Cox 27.
Who was the Player of the Match in the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals ILT20 game?
Gerhard Erasmus was named Player of the Match for his 50 not out off 34 balls, steering the match-winning chase.
What was the highest partnership in the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals scorecard?
The highest partnership was the unbroken 80-run stand between Gerhard Erasmus and Shimron Hetmyer for the 5th wicket, scored off just 44 balls.
Who took the most wickets for the Gulf Giants in this match?
Mark Adair (2/39) and Aayan Afzal Khan (2/12) both claimed 2 wickets each, with Afzal Khan being the most economical.
What was Dubai Capitals’ power play score in this match?
Dubai Capitals scored 51/2 in the powerplay (overs 1–6).
What was the Gulf Giants’ power play score in this match?
Gulf Giants scored 42/2 in the powerplay (overs 1–6).
What is the head-to-head record between the Gulf Giants and Dubai Capitals?
As of ILT20 2025-26, the Gulf Giants lead 4–2 in overall T20 head-to-head meetings.
Where was the Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals ILT20 2025 match played?
The match was played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on January 18, 2025, as part of the DP World International League T20 Season 3.
