NEW DELHI: Avishka Fernando lit up the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with an astonishing knock, steering the Sharjah Warriorz to a record-breaking chase in ILT20 history. Pursuing a daunting 202-run target set by the Dubai Capitals, Fernando smashed a breathtaking 81 off just 27 balls, reaching his fifty in a tournament-record 16 balls.
Fernando’s explosive innings, studded with eight towering sixes and six boundaries, powered the Warriorz to victory in 18.1 overs with five wickets to spare. Earlier, Shai Hope played a pivotal role for the Capitals, anchoring their innings with a commanding 83 to help post 201/5.

Chasing the steep target, Johnson Charles gave the Warriorz a flying start. Partnering with Jason Roy, Charles hammered 37 off 19 balls, including three sixes and three fours. His blitz ended in the powerplay’s final over, falling to Olly Stone as the Warriorz reached 56/1.
Jason Roy followed soon after, dismissed for 26 in the seventh over by Dushmantha Chameera. Avishka Fernando then entered the fray, taking charge in the ninth over with a flurry of boundaries off Gulbadin Naib. UAE all-rounder Rohan Mustafa contributed a crucial 17 before Chameera struck again, leaving the Warriorz at 132/3 in the 13th over.

Fernando continued his onslaught, smashing his way to the fastest fifty in DP World ILT20 history in just 16 balls, surpassing Azam Khan’s previous record of 18 balls. He dominated Naib’s 27-run over, which became the most expensive in the tournament’s history. His fireworks ended in the 16th over when Obed McCoy dismissed him for 81.
Luke Wells kept his composure, scoring an unbeaten 31 off 17 balls to guide the Warriorz home with ease.
In the first innings, the Dubai Capitals capitalized on the powerplay, with Ben Dunk smashing two fours and a six in a quick start. Shai Hope anchored the innings, reaching a 36-ball fifty with three boundaries and two sixes, while Sikandar Raza added 27 during a 67-run partnership with Hope.
Rovman Powell provided late fireworks, hammering 28 off 15 balls, including an 18-run over off Karim Janat. Hope also cleared the ropes twice in Adam Milne’s 19th over before Tim Southee curtailed the Capitals’ charge in the final over, picking up two wickets to limit them to 201/5.

Player of the Match, Avishka Fernando, said: “I wanted to play my natural game, and I thank God for how things turned out. The wicket was great to bat on, and when they scored 200, I knew I had to play positively. It came naturally, and I’m grateful for that. I didn’t realize I had broken the record for the fastest fifty, but I’m happy with the performance.”
Dubai Capitals captain, Sikandar Raza, commented: “I thought it was a very good total. You don’t usually see 202 in Sharjah, so I was pretty confident it was a strong score, and we should have been able to win the game. Shai has been a fantastic addition to the team, and hopefully, the other players around him step up as well. The wicket got better later, and the dew made it tougher. The cutters weren’t holding in the wicket either. Our fielding could have been better, and Avishka played brilliantly.”