NEW DELHI: Ireland’s Mark Adair delivered a sensational all-round performance on his debut for Gulf Giants in the International League T20 (ILT20) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Despite his heroics, the Giants fell short in a nail-biting contest against Sharjah Warriorz, losing by three wickets on the final ball.
Adair showcased his versatility, smashing an unbeaten 20 off just 10 balls to help the Giants set a competitive target of 174/7. With the ball, the pacer impressed with figures of 2 for 23 in his four overs, including a stunning catch and a humorous moment that stole the show.
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The first memorable incident came in his opening over, where Adair dismissed experienced England batter Jason Roy. After inducing an edge to wicketkeeper Robinson, the on-field umpire initially turned down the appeal. However, a successful review confirmed the edge, and Adair humorously pretended to wipe the umpire’s glasses with his jersey, eliciting laughter from the commentators and the crowd.
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Later in the game, Adair delivered a brilliant 18th over, dismissing Harmeet Singh with a spectacular diving catch off his own bowling. Harmeet mistimed a pull shot, and Adair sprinted to his left and completed the catch, reducing the Warriorz to 148/7. The over cost just three runs, leaving the Warriorz needing 24 off the last two overs.
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However, Warriorz opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore anchored the chase with a match-winning 83 not out off 56 balls, guiding his team home on the final delivery of the match.
Despite ending up on the losing side, Adair’s all-round brilliance, coupled with his dynamic presence on the field, left fans and commentators eagerly anticipating his future performances in the tournament.
