Desert Vipers registered their second win in the ILT20, courtesy of impressive bowling from Wanindu Hasaranga and Gut Atkinson.
Desert Vipers established their supremacy in the ILT20 2023 with an unchallenging, seven-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. The Vipers’ clinical bowling restricted the Knight Riders to 133/8 before chasing down the total with 26 balls to spare.
The second innings was a deja vu of the previous match against Sharjah Warriors as Alex Hales, unsurprisingly, made most of the runs for Vipers with his contribution of 64 of 47 runs, with the support of Sam Billings’ 35 off 29. With the ball, Wanindu Hasaranga made life easier for Vipers in the first innings with a loud three-wicket haul.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders looked forward to bagging a win after two consecutive losses. But as soon as the Vipers won the toss and elected to field, they showcased their superiority as opening bowlers Sheldon Cottrell and Gus Atkinson gave them a solid start. The latter got the better of Kennar Lewis in the second over, while Cottrell brought up a military salute on dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva.
The Knight Riders started showing slow signs of recovery immediately in the fourth over with boundaries. While a cold breeze blew over the Dubai International Stadium, the bouncy nature of the pitch was revealed as a ball went over keeper Billings early on, which would also play a part in dismissals later on.
Local star Rohan Mustafa stepped up for Vipers to end the eighth over by sending back Ingram, who struck the ball high towards extra cover only to be caught by Tom Curran.
Vipers, who put on a brave face until then, fumbled as Shane Rutherford dropped Asalanka at four off Howell in the 10th over. However, the energy on the field rose in the 12th over as Cottrell’s quick reflexes nearly resulted in King getting run out. King and Asalanka pushed the pedal in the same over with 15 runs off Howell.
Hasaranga got the better of fellow Lankan 26 off 21 in the 14th over. Andre Russell went for a first ball duck before he could have put on an explosive batting performance with fellow West Indies player, King, in the middle. The Jamaican fell short of a six at long on.
Hasaranga’s next victim, Sunil Narine, also found himself walking back to the pavilion after attempting to slog at long on. The Knight Riders skipper went back in the 16th over with a meagre score. The talented Lankan bowler brought up a maiden in the over to curb the flow of runs.
Knight Riders’ lone anchor, King was shaken up by Gus Atkinson, who rustled the stumps and sent him back with 57 off 44. Meanwhile, Billings and Atkinson’s teamwork sent Matiullah Khan for a run out. The innings ended with 133/8.
In the run chase, Alex Hales and Rohan Mustafa established their own paradise in the first three overs by racking up boundaries and sixes with ease. Trouble entered paradise with Mustafa’s dismissal in the fourth over.
Russell nearly prevented the ‘HALEStorm’ in the fifth over, but the batter was dropped on 17 by Lahiru Kumara. Dre Russ struck in the very next ball to send skipper Colin Munro back to the pavilion.
Hales reigned over the crease, until his time came to depart in the 16th over, when Knight Riders skipper Sunil Narine had a breakthrough and stumped the strategic batter at 64 off 45 balls.
With only 16 runs off 33 balls left, the game was nearly over for the Knight Riders. However, they did not show signs of backing down until the very end.
Even though the outcome was obvious, Shane Rutherford smacked a stylish six, confirming Vipers’ two points for the day within 16 overs.
Brief Scores: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 133/8 in 20 overs (B King 57, C Asalanka 26; W Hasaranga 3/18) lost to Desert Vipers 135/3 in 15.4 overs (A Hales 64, S Billings 35; A Hosein 1/24)
