He top-scored from No. 5, with seven fours and one six, and left too much for the Central Districts batters to do

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2025Shakib Al Hasan starred with both bat and ball for Dubai Capitals to give the ILT20 champions a winning start in the Global Super League over New Zealand’s Central Districts.Shakib first held fort in the middle order, striking seven fours and a six in his unbeaten 37-ball 58 from No. 5 to help Capitals post 165 for 7 in their 20 overs. Then he dismissed four of the top-six batters in the Central Districts line-up to derail their chase, finishing with figures of 4 for 13 at an economy rate of 3.25.In their batting innings, Capitals had their base set courtesy opener Sediqullah Atal’s 25-ball 41, but Angus Schaw’s three-wicket burst through the middle overs brought Central Districts back. Despite the middle-overs wobble, Shakib combined with No. 7 Jesse Bootan (20) and No. 8 Dominic Drakes (11) to lift them to a respectable total.Central Districts made a promising start to the chase as Will Young (19) and Dane Cleaver (21) added 30 for the first wicket. But Shakib’s two powerplay wickets – of Young and Dean Foxcroft – brought Capitals back into the contest.Shakib then bowled both Josh Clarkson and William Clark, before UAE’s Khuzaima Tanveer cleaned up the tail. Central Districts captain Tom Bruce top-scored with 34.