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From 2/2 to 144/2. It was some recovery. One of the architects of that 142-run partnership for MI Emirates, Muhammad Waseem, who bagged the Green Belt (Highest run-scorer in the season) during his knock of 59 off 42 balls, was at the post-match press conference dissecting this win. Excerpts..&nbsp;Discussion with Pooran while batting&nbsp;We lost two wickets inside the first two overs itself. But then (Nicholas) Pooran and me spoke that we aren’t chasing a big total. The ball was swinging too in the first few overs. We decided to play carefully in the first three-four overs with discipline, we could wait for the bad balls and hit boundaries on them. It got easier for us with that one partnership.&nbsp;On his form in the tournament&nbsp;In cricket, you sometimes score, and sometimes you get out. Glad that I could score today. It is my natural game to play attacking cricket. The way we played today, it was probably our best innings. Had we played shots then, we could have gotten out and the team could have been in trouble. Glad we played sensibly. Happy on getting the Green Belt as well. Hopefully I keep scoring runs for my team and keep the belt on my shoulder.&nbsp;On winning the Green BeltThe way the team is playing at the moment and the way we have momentum with us in the team, we will try our best to win the title. I will try my best to win the Green and the Blue Belts.&nbsp;

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“Pooran and I just looked to play carefully early on and wait for bad balls”: Muhammad Waseem

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Absolutely clinical stuff this. At 2/2 there was a bit of a scare, but a 140-run stand between Muhammad Waseem and Nicholas Pooran made sure there were no surprises in store as MI Emirates chased down the target of 142 easily with 21 balls to spare. This now means the MI Emirates have stamped their boarding pass for the playoffs. YEP, THE Q IS OFFICIAL!&nbsp;W, W, W, WTalk about winning when it matters. Come the business end, trust MI Emirates to bring out their A game and go on a victory run. The last two games might have been close wins, but this was pretty authoritative. The seamers did their job first up to keep the Gulf Giants to an under-par total of 142, and then one big stand for the third wicket was good enough.&nbsp;The Waseem-Pooran showMuhammad Waseem: 59 runs | 42 balls | 3 fours | 3 sixes&nbsp;Nicholas Pooran: 69 runs | 49 balls | 6 fours | 3 sixes&nbsp;Coming together with Jonny Bairstow and Tom Banton falling cheaply, the duo were watchful in the beginning, taking their time to find their timing. It was in the eighth over that Waseem first cut loose, smacking two boundaries off Kyle Mayers. Pooran, for a large part of his innings, was batting at under a run a ball. But then in no time stuck a few big ones, brought the asking rate well within control, and then even overtook Waseem to bring up his fifty.&nbsp;Advantage seized in the bowling powerplayThe game was won with the ball. And more precisely, in the powerplay, with Romario Shepherd and Fazalhaq Farooqi sending back the top three batters inside the first four overs. Although Moeen Ali got a fifty, he was always playing catchup.&nbsp;Woohoo. We are into the playoffs. We are firmly in the top two on the points table. We have the rhythm. Let’s bring it home!&nbsp;

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MIEvGG report: Thumping win to jump the queue and bag the ‘Q’

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Rashid Khan, after playing a huge role in MI Emirates’ campaign so far, is set to leave to join the MI Cape Town pre-season camp ahead of the fourth season of the SA20. We also say goodbye to Kamindu Mendis, who would be leaving to join the Sri Lankan squad. &nbsp;Replacing Rashid Khan is Sunny Patel, who has been part of MI New York for the last two seasons. Dan Mousley, who again is no stranger to the Blue and Gold, having represented MI Emirates last year, would be coming in for Kamindu Mendis.&nbsp;MIE fam, let’s wish the duo of Rashid and Kamindu the best! And then say a massive hello to Sunny and Dan!&nbsp;

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Dan Mousley and Sunny Patel set to join MI Emirates

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A chase of 125 done in 17.3 overs is what the scorecard would tell you, but boy, it was tense! On a tricky pitch, with not a lot of dew either, the batters were struggling to get on with the scoring. But in the end, it was down to the experience of our senior pros that ensured panic didn’t set in and MI Emirates got home the two points to inch closer to a Q.Our true heroes, our bowlers&nbsp;Nobody took a three-fer or ran through the Desert Vipers’ batting lineup, but it was the bowlers who set this win up, ensuring none of their batters got going and plucking regular wickets to keep them to 124/7 in their 20 overs. Shakib Al Hasan was at his miserly best, giving away just 14 runs in his four overs, picking two wickets along the way. Just unplayable stuff!&nbsp;Welcome to the party, Sanjay Krishnamurthi&nbsp;He got a chance to bat tonight at 51/3, and with Shakib not quite getting going at the other end, he reversed the pressure with a two huge sixes in his crucial 18-ball knock of 21.&nbsp;And then Polly does Polly things&nbsp;He didn’t waste time getting his eye in. Walking in to bat at 79/5 and the team in a spot of bother with the asking rate over six an over, Kieron Pollard decided to take down leggie Qais Ahmad, smashing him for 18 runs in the 15th over and virtually killing the game in the process. Here’s how it went:&nbsp;Ball 1: DOT – defended&nbsp;Ball 2: SIX – full toss, smoked over deep mid-wicket&nbsp;Ball 3: SIX – another full toss, another hoick over deep mid-wicket&nbsp;Ball 4: DOT – appeal for LBW, but saved by the inside-edge&nbsp;Ball 5: FOUR – flat ball, slapped just past a diving fielder down the ground&nbsp;Ball 6: 2 RUNS – edged through the slipsThe game was sealed. This was experience coming to the fore, making sure it didn’t go down to the last over, also making sure MI Emirates solidified their top two spot on the points table.&nbsp;

“Pooran and I just looked to play carefully early on and wait for bad balls”: Muhammad Waseem

By MI Emirates Media

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