Dwayne Bravo and Najibullah Zadran made light work of needing 20 off the final six balls, as MI Emirates stole victory from a game which had appeared to be slipping from their grasp
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 170-7, MI Emirates 176-5 - MI Emirates won by five wickets
MI Emirates took 25 from the last over of this match, bowled by Andre Russell, to condemn Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to their fifth straight defeat in the ILT20.
Dwayne Bravo and Najibullah Zadran made light work of needing 20 off the final six balls, as MI Emirates stole victory from a game which had appeared to be slipping from their grasp.
Bravo finished 15 not out from six, while Najibullah hit a 17-ball 35 in a sixth-wicket partnership worth 34 in 11 deliveries to leave the Knight Riders' players hunched over and stunned at the close.
MI Emirates beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders [Getty Images]
Earlier, Andre Fletcher made 53 from 43 balls but MI Emirates - who had the perfect platform at 82 for 2 midway through the 11th over - seemed to be running out of room, and steam, in the backend of the chase.
That was before the drama of the final act.
With 20 required from the last over, Bravo clipped Russell over deep midwicket for six from the first delivery, while an inside edge to the second brought two runs to fine leg.
The third ball was driven straight back down the ground for four, leaving eight needed from three, while the fourth - a well executed yorker - was dug out for a single.
That handed the stage for Najibullah to finish the job, and he did just that, heaving a 93-metre six off the back foot over square leg to tie the scores with a ball remaining before carving Russell over third man for another maximum.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have lost all five of their matches this season [Getty Images]
MI Emirates maintain their 100 per cent record, with Kieron Pollard's side having recorded three victories out of three.
They fielded well in keeping the Knight Riders to 170. Trent Boult went for just 22 in his four overs, while Fazalhaq Farooqi produced figures of 2 for 27, including the key wicket of Russell.
Dhananjaya de Silva top-scored for Abu Dhabi with 65.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.