158/2 (16.5)
CR : 9.39
157/7 (20.0)
CR : 7.85
Desert Vipers won by 8 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Khuzaima Bin Tanvir
4/10
11:19 PM IST, 9:49 PM local time: Desert Vipers beat Gulf Giants by 8 wickets (with 25 balls to spare).
Top of the table is where the Desert Vipers belong. They finished there in the last edition and continue to occupy that spot this season too. Tonight, they exhibited that they aren't just the best team currently in the competition, but are also a mile ahead of the second best.
In all fairness, the Giants got outplayed in all departments. Khuzaima Bin Tanvir set the tone with a delectable spell of new ball bowling. His accuracy was impressive and the lateral movement he generated prodigious. The ball moved both ways and some poor shot-making added fuel to the fire. The right arm quick finished all his overs in a solitary spell and returned a drool-worthy 4/10.
While that broke back of the Giants batting, some fight was shown by the lower order. Kyle Mayers showed glimpses of brilliance in his 24-ball-30 and Asif Khan made a stubborn 36 (38). However, it was Liam Dawson's blitzkrieg towards the fag end that stole the show. The left-handed Englishman scored an effervescent 14-ball-38* to propel the team to 157/7.
Then, two more left-handed Englishman further revelled in the limelight. Both Max Holden and Sam Curran exhibited great control and composure. There was not a moment in the game when they seemed to be in put in any sort of pressure. Both mixed aggression and caution in the perfect proportion through the course of their massive, unbeaten 123-run partnership.
The Giants made some questionable calls. Azmatullah Omarzai was subbed out by Nuwan Thushara who failed to have an 'impact' (pun intended). Aayan Afzal Khan, who picked 3/17 in his last match, was not given a single over. Chris Wood's delivery to get Fakhar Zaman out bowled was the only notable bright spot for them in the second innings.
Top of the table is where the Desert Vipers belong. They finished there in the last edition and continue to occupy that spot this season too. Tonight, they exhibited that they aren't just the best team currently in the competition, but are also a mile ahead of the second best.
In all fairness, the Giants got outplayed in all departments. Khuzaima Bin Tanvir set the tone with a delectable spell of new ball bowling. His accuracy was impressive and the lateral movement he generated prodigious. The ball moved both ways and some poor shot-making added fuel to the fire. The right arm quick finished all his overs in a solitary spell and returned a drool-worthy 4/10.
While that broke back of the Giants batting, some fight was shown by the lower order. Kyle Mayers showed glimpses of brilliance in his 24-ball-30 and Asif Khan made a stubborn 36 (38). However, it was Liam Dawson's blitzkrieg towards the fag end that stole the show. The left-handed Englishman scored an effervescent 14-ball-38* to propel the team to 157/7.
Then, two more left-handed Englishman further revelled in the limelight. Both Max Holden and Sam Curran exhibited great control and composure. There was not a moment in the game when they seemed to be in put in any sort of pressure. Both mixed aggression and caution in the perfect proportion through the course of their massive, unbeaten 123-run partnership.
The Giants made some questionable calls. Azmatullah Omarzai was subbed out by Nuwan Thushara who failed to have an 'impact' (pun intended). Aayan Afzal Khan, who picked 3/17 in his last match, was not given a single over. Chris Wood's delivery to get Fakhar Zaman out bowled was the only notable bright spot for them in the second innings.
Youngest to Complete the Double of 5000-plus Runs and 250-plus Wickets in T20s:
27y 192d - Sam Curran*
30y 298d - Kieron Pollard
31y 130d - Andre Russell
27y 192d - Sam Curran*
30y 298d - Kieron Pollard
31y 130d - Andre Russell
Highest 3rd Wicket Partnerships in ILT20:
128* - Alex Hales and Sam Curran (Desert Vipers) vs Sharjah Warriorz, Sharjah, 2025
128 - Alex Hales and Sam Billings (Desert Vipers) vs Sharjah Warriorz, Dubai, 2023
123* - Max Holden and Sam Curran (Desert Vipers) vs Gulf Giants, Dubai, 2025-26, Tonight*
128* - Alex Hales and Sam Curran (Desert Vipers) vs Sharjah Warriorz, Sharjah, 2025
128 - Alex Hales and Sam Billings (Desert Vipers) vs Sharjah Warriorz, Dubai, 2023
123* - Max Holden and Sam Curran (Desert Vipers) vs Gulf Giants, Dubai, 2025-26, Tonight*
11:28 PM IST, 9:58 PM local time: Time for the presentation ceremony.
Asif Khan gets the award for hitting the biggest six of the night.
James Vince (Gulf Giants captain): "He (Khuzaima Bin Tanvir) bowled really well. Of course, as batters, we will look back at what we could have done differently. Kyle Mayers played a good innings, Asif Khan showed some fight and Liam Dawson teed off at the end. We did feel we were a bit under par though. It felt like the best pitch we have played on so far. Obviously in the second innings, with the dew coming in, it becomes harder for the bowler. We needed early wickets, but we could not put them under pressure. The dew is a big factor on good surfaces. On slower wickets it becomes a bit easier. But it is a factor."
Lockie Ferguson (Desert Vipers Captain): "He (Khuzaima Bin Tanvir) has been amazing for us this season. He was doing well in the last season as well. Last season, he was great for us. We had a chat with him ahead of this edition. With the bat, winning us games and tonight with the ball, it was outstanding and amazing to watch him go.
Tonight, he was outstanding, swinging it both ways. Not sure about it (whether his lesser pace than Ferguson helped Khuzaima to move the ball?). He has been bowling well across various forms of cricket and has been playing well in the build-up to this tournament. He is in rhythm, and that is working for us. He is in a good space.
Yeah, nice to get over the line a little bit earlier than we did in the last couple of games. However, we take the points as they come. It was nice to see the partnership between Max Holden and Sam Curran. All good."
Tonight, he was outstanding, swinging it both ways. Not sure about it (whether his lesser pace than Ferguson helped Khuzaima to move the ball?). He has been bowling well across various forms of cricket and has been playing well in the build-up to this tournament. He is in rhythm, and that is working for us. He is in a good space.
Yeah, nice to get over the line a little bit earlier than we did in the last couple of games. However, we take the points as they come. It was nice to see the partnership between Max Holden and Sam Curran. All good."
Player of the Match: Khuzaima Bin Tanvir
Khuzaima Bin Tanvir (Player of the Match): "I think the plan was simple. I wanted to swing the ball. The pitch was supportive. I liked the wicket of Gurbaz bhai the most. If you ask every bowler, what do you like, he would say batting. Every bowler likes batting."
Desert Vipers thump the the Giants to increase the 'gulf' (no pun intended) between themselves and the rest on the points table. With this win, they now not only have 10 points to their name but also the best net run rate. The only question their fans will be asking is, "Are they peaking a bit too early?"
They will play next on Sunday, December 14, against Dubai Capitals. Meanwhile, Gulf Giants will lock horns with Sharjah Warriorz on Monday, December 15. Before that, tomorrow, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will face-off against the defending champions. Do join us for it. Our coverage will start at 7:00 PM IST (5:30 PM local time).
For now, it is the troika of Darpan Tikiya, AkshayaKrishna Polya and Yogesh Kumar signing off, Keep following Crickxo for more cricketing action from around the globe. Sayonara!
They will play next on Sunday, December 14, against Dubai Capitals. Meanwhile, Gulf Giants will lock horns with Sharjah Warriorz on Monday, December 15. Before that, tomorrow, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will face-off against the defending champions. Do join us for it. Our coverage will start at 7:00 PM IST (5:30 PM local time).
For now, it is the troika of Darpan Tikiya, AkshayaKrishna Polya and Yogesh Kumar signing off, Keep following Crickxo for more cricketing action from around the globe. Sayonara!