151/6 (19.0)
CR : 7.95
150/8 (20.0)
CR : 7.50
Desert Vipers won by 4 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Andries Gous
58(36)
DV won by 4 wickets
12:06 AM IST, 10:36 PM Local Time: Desert Vipers thump Dubai Capitals by 4 wickets and 6 balls to spare to kickstart their International League T20 2025-26 journey on a high note.
They could have crossed the line earlier given the strong start from the openers, but the middle-order batters faltered and the game dragged into the 19th over.
Earlier, Dubai Capitals posted 150/8 in their 20 overs after a stop-start innings marked by regular wickets. Sediqullah Atal (16) and Shayan Jahangir (19) provided brief resistance, but the top order collapsed to 42/4, with Gulbadin and Jordan Cox departing cheaply. The innings came alive through Rovman Powell’s attacking 40 off 22 balls, injecting momentum with four fours and two sixes. Mohammad Nabi’s composed 29 off 23 further stabilised the middle order, while skipper Shanaka added 12 before falling near the end.
The bowling unit kept the pressure on throughout, with David Payne (2/26) and Noor Ahmad (2/25) and Khuzaima Tanveer (2/35) taking two wickets each, while Naseem Shah and Sam Curran celebrated one wicket each.
In reply, Fakhar Zaman and Andries Gous came out all guns blazing and provided a solid start for the Vipers, adding 50 runs for the first wicket before Mohammad Nabi trapped Zaman for 26 to break the opening stand. The middle-order batters struggled to get into their groove, and the Vipers lost a few wickets at regular intervals, including the wicket of Gous (58), who notched up his fifty but failed to bat till the end.
However, Dan Lawrence (19*) and Khuzaima Tanveer (12*) displayed composure and helped the Vipers cross the line with 6 balls to spare.
The Capitals’ bowlers lost the plot in the powerplay, conceding a few too many early on. Although they managed to tighten the scoring in the middle overs, they ultimately failed to defend the total. Scott Currie (2/36) and Waqar Salamkheil (2/18) starred with the ball for the Capitals, claiming two wickets each, while Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib chipped in with one wicket each.
Stay tuned for the presentation......
They could have crossed the line earlier given the strong start from the openers, but the middle-order batters faltered and the game dragged into the 19th over.
Earlier, Dubai Capitals posted 150/8 in their 20 overs after a stop-start innings marked by regular wickets. Sediqullah Atal (16) and Shayan Jahangir (19) provided brief resistance, but the top order collapsed to 42/4, with Gulbadin and Jordan Cox departing cheaply. The innings came alive through Rovman Powell’s attacking 40 off 22 balls, injecting momentum with four fours and two sixes. Mohammad Nabi’s composed 29 off 23 further stabilised the middle order, while skipper Shanaka added 12 before falling near the end.
The bowling unit kept the pressure on throughout, with David Payne (2/26) and Noor Ahmad (2/25) and Khuzaima Tanveer (2/35) taking two wickets each, while Naseem Shah and Sam Curran celebrated one wicket each.
In reply, Fakhar Zaman and Andries Gous came out all guns blazing and provided a solid start for the Vipers, adding 50 runs for the first wicket before Mohammad Nabi trapped Zaman for 26 to break the opening stand. The middle-order batters struggled to get into their groove, and the Vipers lost a few wickets at regular intervals, including the wicket of Gous (58), who notched up his fifty but failed to bat till the end.
However, Dan Lawrence (19*) and Khuzaima Tanveer (12*) displayed composure and helped the Vipers cross the line with 6 balls to spare.
The Capitals’ bowlers lost the plot in the powerplay, conceding a few too many early on. Although they managed to tighten the scoring in the middle overs, they ultimately failed to defend the total. Scott Currie (2/36) and Waqar Salamkheil (2/18) starred with the ball for the Capitals, claiming two wickets each, while Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib chipped in with one wicket each.
Stay tuned for the presentation......
Time for the post match presentation ceremony..
Dispatch of the Day: Andries Gous (90 M Maximum)
Dasun Shanaka (Dubai Capitals Captain): "It was about setting the tone at the start of the tournament. We were not upto the mark today. I think 150-160 is the par score with the way it behaved in the first innings. We will come back with better plans next time. You need to give yourself a chance when you're batting and bowl the correct lines when you're bowling."
Sam Curran (Desert Vipers Captain): "Yeah, like I said before, they got the better of us last year, so it’s nice to start the tournament well. Always good to begin with a win. I think we had five debuts today as well. It got a bit scrappy toward the end, but the two points are what matter. I thought we bowled really well, especially in the powerplay.
Naseem and Khuzaima bowled with good pace, and Payne used his skills nicely. Having someone like Noor Ahmad in our attack helps too, and then Payne and I could use our slower balls through the middle. They probably got about 20 more than we would’ve liked, but I thought the wicket improved a bit as the innings went on.
Yeah, I think it’s a bit different from when we last played. The dew seems to be playing more of a factor. But since it was the first game of the tournament, it definitely felt like that. There are a lot of things we can improve on, but like I said, we’re happy with the win.
(On the openers) Yeah, really good. It’s great to have those two there, and Gous showed his class. We have a powerful batting line-up. The first game always brings nerves, but that win will give the group a lift."
Naseem and Khuzaima bowled with good pace, and Payne used his skills nicely. Having someone like Noor Ahmad in our attack helps too, and then Payne and I could use our slower balls through the middle. They probably got about 20 more than we would’ve liked, but I thought the wicket improved a bit as the innings went on.
Yeah, I think it’s a bit different from when we last played. The dew seems to be playing more of a factor. But since it was the first game of the tournament, it definitely felt like that. There are a lot of things we can improve on, but like I said, we’re happy with the win.
(On the openers) Yeah, really good. It’s great to have those two there, and Gous showed his class. We have a powerful batting line-up. The first game always brings nerves, but that win will give the group a lift."
Player of the Match: Andries Gous
Andries Gous (Player of the Match): "Good, thank you. It was nice to keep first and understand how it would play. It was a bit slow, and from over 16th in the first innings, it started to skid. So, we were confident it would become better during our batting.
It's hard to keep to Noor; both batters and keepers are finding it tough. It's nice to start like this, it keeps your confidence high. Good teams in this tournament, and we need to perform consistently, but nice to get a 50 today."
It's hard to keep to Noor; both batters and keepers are finding it tough. It's nice to start like this, it keeps your confidence high. Good teams in this tournament, and we need to perform consistently, but nice to get a 50 today."
That’s all from the inaugural match of ILT20 Season 4, where the Desert Vipers clinched the curtain raiser by 4 wickets. For now, it’s me, Deepak Prakash, signing off from this space along with co-commentators Anirudh Modi, Arijit Kundu, and scorer/analyst Paras Yadav. Cheers and good night! 😴