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A win has followed a loss. A loss has followed a win. We are coming off a loss, hence, what’s coming now is a win.&nbsp; &nbsp;Okay, here’s how things stand. You could say we’ve not quite found our momentum. You could also say we have always found a way to bounce back. We know what it takes to step up when the stakes are upped. We know what it takes to peak when it matters. Well, it’s that time. The second half of the tournament is officially here, and first up are the Dubai Capitals, who’ve had a similar journey and are on four points in five games as well.&nbsp;The previous game against the Sharjah Warriorz was quite the heartbreak. We fought, came close, had our noses in front as well, but just couldn’t get home the two points. A ‘W’ will help put everything behind us!&nbsp;&nbsp;What: Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates&nbsp; When: December 17. 2025 | 6:30pm IST, 8:00pm IST&nbsp; Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai&nbsp; What to expect: Evening games in Dubai has been synonymous with dew, putting some more pressure on captains to win the toss and bowl first. The pitch too has been more of a belter than what it was in Abu Dhabi. All in all, both teams have an equal amount at stake. Sounds fun?!

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Match 6 | DCvMIE preview: When momentum comes calling! 

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A proper thriller this. Both teams at different times had their noses ahead, only for the other to claw back. Sadly, despite the final flurry of sixes, MI Emirates couldn’t get over the line. Our skipper was just as disappointed. “I&nbsp;thought it was a good score, it was a good wicket, we got a start and it was a game which we should've finished. After soaking up some dot balls, we needed to do a lot more, the data says we're the slowest scoring team in the middle overs, we lost by six runs, that's something we need to look at,”&nbsp;he said.&nbsp;Pooran’s final over blitz&nbsp;This is the story of never giving in. It wasn’t the clean-hitting Nicky P we’ve become accustomed to over the years, but one that wasn’t quite finding his rhythm. But cometh the final over with 25 runs needed to win, he took it upon himself to go for it. The first ball went for a six, as did the third. It was down to 13 runs being needed off three balls now. But Junaid Siddique nailed two deliveries to deny is the game.&nbsp;Another day, another solid opening standJonny Bairstow and Muhammad Waseem have been making a habit of getting the team off to quick starts, and today was no different. Waseem with four fours and two sixes in his 29-ball 44, and Bairstow with four fours and a six in his 23-ball 31, matched each other shot for shot.&nbsp;Dhillon, our wounded tigerWith the asking rate creeping up to over 14-runs-per-over, we needed a serious cameo. Kieron Pollard had just fallen to a brilliant catch in the deep. Pooran was struggling a bit to time the ball. In walked Tajinder Dhillon, smashed a 13-ball 24 despite hurting his hamstring in the process, and kept fighting to keep MIE in the hunt. Unfortunately he couldn’t see them home, having to retire hurt due to the pain.&nbsp;The story of our fightback&nbsp;The Sharjah Warriorz openers were off to a flier. Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Johnson Charles got past 100 in the 13th over, and it looked like MI Emirates would be up against a massive score. But our bowlers, especially the Afghan spin twins, helped dry out the runs in the middle overs and helped keep the Warriorz to a much lower score of 174.&nbsp;

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MIEvSW report: “It was a game we should have finished” - Pollard

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This is how our first four games have gone: L, W, L, W. With this being our last home game for a while as we hit the road again, wouldn’t we just love some momentum, some Abu Dhabi luck, aka, a W! It’s been some journey these four games: a loss where we fought hard after being in trouble, an epic last over heist, an equally near-epic pull off but ending up in heartbreak, and finally, a clinical one-sided win.&nbsp;The Sharjah Warriorz were the side on the wrong side of us pulling off that epic defence where Allah Ghazanfar brought MI Emirates back from the dead with a two-wicket maiden over before Romario Shepherd nailed yorker after yorker in the final over. They’ve in fact lost all three games they’ve played thus far, and would be hungry to get points on the board. We’re equally hungry to defend our fortress.&nbsp;&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz&nbsp;When: December 14, 2025 | 2:00pm local time, 3:30pm ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu DhabiWhat to expect: Given that it is an afternoon game that makes the dew inconsequential, the toss won’t be as important. But the pitch at the Zayed Cricket Stadium has been pretty favourable towards bowlers making it a nice fair contest, and this game promises to be no different.&nbsp;

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Match 5 | MIEvSW preview: Let’s end the first half on a high! 

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With a whopping win over AD Knight Riders, MI Emirates have firmly put that last-ball defeat over the Desert Vipers behind them to get back on the winning track. Kamindu Mendis, one of the stars with the ball, spoke to the media at the end of play and praised the bowling group to keep ADKR down to a below-par total.&nbsp;“Our bowlers did well to keep them to under 130,” Mendis said. “(Fazalhaq) Farooqi did really well, kudos to him, with some good fielding today as well. Hopefully we do well in the upcoming games.“He also felt it was a good toss for MI Emirates to win here with the dew coming down. “The pitch is getting a bit slower, which helped us restrict them. Dew is a big factor when it comes to night games. Today there was a bit more dew on the field.”And finally, on a lighter note Jonny Bairstow was left stranded on 49 as Kamindu smashed a six off his legs to finish the game. “I already apologized to him. I didn’t want to finish it off, but it just happened,” he concludes with an almost embarrassed smile.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Match 6 | DCvMIE preview: When momentum comes calling!

By MI Emirates Media

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