The Desert Vipers returned to winning ways in the International League T20 2023 courtesy of a comprehensive bowling performance. After managing a par score on a difficult track to bat on, the bowlers took full advantage of the slower conditions as Colin Munro’s side picked up their sixth win of the campaign.
Earlier, the Vipers decided to bat first after winning the toss. Naveen-ul-Haq and Junaid Siddique provided a solid start by giving no room for the openers to attack. Muhammad Jawadullah capitalised on the momentum and dismissed Alex Hales.
Rohan Mustafa took the mantle on himself once Mohammad Nabi came on and struck two boundaries in the fifth over, but the off-spinner struck big in his next over. Skipper Colin Munro crunched a big six over mid-wicket in the seventh over before the low bounce of the surface got him walking back.
The Warriors took full control in the next few overs and introduced Noor Ahmed into the attack. The teenage sensation dismissed a well set Rohan Mustafa (31 off 33 balls) in his first over and returned to pick up the prized scalp of Wanindu Hasaranga. The Lankan all-rounder tried to tee up a big over for the Vipers and got one boundary in the over, but perished in an attempt to heave it over mid-wicket.
Sherfane Rutherford looked in good touch and struck a 103-metre six to get going, but a mix-up in the middle with Sam Billings got him run out at a crucial juncture in the game. This brought Benny Howell into the middle, who chipped in with a vital cameo for the side.
His onslaught began with a boundary over a backward point off Junaid Siddique, while Billings at the other end, tried to keep up with him with the occasional boundary. The duo amassed 16 runs in the 18th over, but the over ended with Billings getting dismissed.
New batter Gus Atkinson added another boundary in the final over to get the batting unit close to the 150-mark, but we finished with 148/6 in 20 overs. Howell remained unbeaten on 34 off 23 deliveries, which included four boundaries.
After the innings break, Atkinson was at it with the ball as well, providing the Vipers an early breakthrough. His short delivery with a hint of away movement deceived Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rohan Mustafa at fine leg lunged forward to take a brilliant catch.
Luke Wood joined the party in the following over, dismissing Tom Kohler-Cadmore off the first ball of his spell. Once again, it was the short delivery doing the trick and Alex Hales at mid-off made no mistake to grab it. Despite scoring 16 runs in the first over, the Warriors could only manage 39 runs in the opening six overs.
Wanindu Hasaranga was introduced to the attack after the field restrictions were lifted and the Lankan magician furthered the Warriors’ misery. A brilliant flipper from the leggie induced a false shot from Marcus Stoinis and was trapped plumb in front of the wickets.
After Sam Billings’ instincts induced a terrific run out to dismiss Joe Denly, Hasaranga returned to shackle Adam Hose’s stumps in his third over with an unplayable wrong-un. He capped his spell off with the wicket of Mohammad Nabi in the 13th over, finishing with figures of 3/13.
At the end of Hasaranga’s heroic spell, the Warriors were stranded at 73/6 with all the explosive batters back in the pavilion. A few boundaries from Noor Ahmad and Paul Walter gave them a hint of hope, but Luke Wood returned to the attack and sabotaged any possible comeback. He dismissed both Walter and Ahmad, knocking out the latter’s stumps with a peach of a delivery in his final over.
The Sharjah Warriors could only manage 126/8 in 20 overs, handing the Vipers an important win after a massive setback against MI Emirates on Sunday. We have also reclaimed the top position in the points table with this 22-run victory.
Brief Scores: Desert Vipers 148/6 in 20 overs (Benny Howell 34*, Rohan Mustafa 31; Noor Ahmad 2/27) beat Sharjah Warriors 126/8 in 20 overs (Paul Walter 27; Wanindu Hasaranga 3/13, Luke Wood 3/20)
