The ILT20 franchise have just one more chance – on Saturday against Sharjah Warriors – to get a win on the board
Abu Dhabi: MI Emirates 180-4, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 162 - MI Emirates win by 18 runs
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders' dire campaign continued in familiar fashion as they were beaten for an eighth time in nine games.
Their only match not to end in defeat was washed out without a ball being bowled.
Their latest loss came at Abu Dhabi, where they were overpowered by MI Emirates, who kept themselves in a strong position to reach the end-of-season playoffs, winning by 18 runs.
UAE opener Muhammad Waseem starred for Kieron Pollard's side, anchoring the innings with a 43-ball 60 before Pollard himself arrived to inflict some late carnage. He smashed an unbeaten 43 in 17 deliveries, with three sixes and four fours in his cameo.
Andre Fletcher (22) and Ireland's Lorcan Tucker (33) also contributed as Knight Riders struggled for wickets.
In reply, the bottom team's run-chase began inauspiciously, with Paul Stirling holing out to Pollard at mid-on off just the second ball of Abu Dhabi's innings, before Brandon King slapped a full toss from Imran Tahir – bowling inside the powerplay – straight to the man on the midwicket fence.
Kieron Pollard smashed 43 for MI Emirates (Karim Sahib/AFP via Getty Images)
The South Africa veteran then trapped Charith Asalanka (17) in front and Joe Clarke was fooled by a vintage slower ball from Dwayne Bravo.
Knight Riders were in with a shout, though, while Andre Russell was at the crease. He bludgeoned a quickfire 42, but when he toed a full toss to Waseem at cow corner, the game was all but up.
Sunil Narine hit a six and a four but departed all too soon, while Bravo caught fellow West Indian Akeal Hosein off his own bowling. Connor Esterhuizen struggled for 17 off 19 balls before Marchant de Lange (19) was cleaned up by Dan Mousley to end the game and put Abu Dhabi out of their misery.
They have just one more chance – on Saturday against Sharjah Warriors – to get a win on the board.
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.