The DP World ILT20 Season 4 playoffs are officially locked in, and the stage is set for a blockbuster finish, with MI Emirates and Desert Vipers set to clash in Qualifier 1 for a direct ticket to the final.

MI Emirates sealed their place in the top two with a dominant eight-wicket win over Dubai Capitals at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday, extending their winning streak to five matches and sending a clear warning to the rest of the competition.

Chasing a modest 123, MI Emirates were in control almost from the start. Skipper Kieron Pollard led from the front, smashing an unbeaten 44 off 31 balls, including five towering sixes, as his side wrapped up the chase in just 16.4 overs.

The win confirmed a December 30 showdown with Desert Vipers in Qualifier 1, where the winner will progress straight to the final. The loser, however, won’t be out just yet and will get another shot via Qualifier 2.

Earlier in the evening, MI Emirates’ spinners once again stole the show. Youngster Allah Ghazanfar starred with figures of 3 for 28, while veteran Shakib Al Hasan applied the squeeze with a miserly spell of 1 for 11. Dubai Capitals never truly recovered and were restricted to 122 for 8.

Player of the Match

Ghazanfar, named Player of the Match, credited preparation and belief for his performance. “I stayed true to my plans and bowled with confidence. Executing variations isn’t easy, but the hard work behind the scenes really pays off,” he said.

Tough road ahead for Capitals

For Dubai Capitals, the road to the final just got tougher. They now head into the Eliminator on January 1, where they will face the winner of the final league match between Gulf Giants and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Lose that, and their season is over.

The winner of the Eliminator will move on to Qualifier 2, setting up a high-stakes clash against the losing side from Qualifier 1, one last chance to make the final.

With form, momentum and confidence all on their side, MI Emirates will be looking to finish the job early. Desert Vipers, meanwhile, know that one big performance could send them straight into the final.

As the ILT20 enters knockout mode, the margin for error is gone, and the race to lift the trophy is well and truly on.