West Indian Rovman Powell missed out on a second T20 hundred, but his sparkling knock was instrumental in a 16-run victory for Dubai Capitals against MI Emirates in the International League T20 (ILT20) on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

Powell struck 10 sixes and four fours in a magnificent 97 off 41 balls. He was dismissed off the last ball of the innings looking to get the boundary to reach three figures.

The Jamaican right-hander and England’s premier batsman Joe Root put on 119 for the second wicket to muscle Capitals to a commanding 222-3.

Root, who made 82 off 54 (8x4s, 3x6s), had earlier put on 78 in just 8.5 overs with Robin Uthappa, who scored 26 off 23 (1×4, 1×6).

Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kieron Pollard and Zahoor Khan picked up a wicket each for MI Emirates, who were held to 206-5 in reply.

Pollard topscored with 86 off 38 (8x4s, 6x6s), but the target proved beyond MI Emirates.

Andre Fletcher scored an unbeaten 35 off 34 (2x4s, 1×6), and fellow West Indian Nicholas Pooran fell for a five-ball duck.

Hazrat Luqman took 2-24 and Powell 1-28.