Tom Curran was the top performer for Desert Vipers with 42 runs off 33 balls.
Despite a quick start with the bat early in the innings,Desert Vipersfell short of the target by 25 runs against Gulf Giants in the ongoingILT20 2023on Saturday. However, the Vipers have secured a top-two spot on the points table and will be favourites going forward in the playoff stages.
Chasing an above-par total of 181, battersAlex HalesandRohan Mustafawalked out to open the innings for the Vipers. And Mustafa wrapped up the first over with a bang, smashing Dominic Drakes for three boundaries in that opening over.
Hales joined the party, taking the Giants’ bowlers to the cleaners alongside Mustafa. The run-fest continued until the sixth over as the Vipers raced up to 57 at the end of the power play.
Both openers Hales (26) and Mustafa (28) were dismissed when skipper Munro entered the ground after 6.2 overs. The cooling period began after a blazing start as Munro (2) departed yet again for a low score.
Desert Vipers were reeling at 65 for three after eight overs with gloveman Sam Billings at the crease.Sherfane Rutherford, the hero of the last match, joined arms with Billings in the recovery task.
Unfortunately, both batters walked back to the pavilion early, as the Vipers were now in real trouble with 89 for five on the board after 12 overs.
All-roundersTom Curranand Benny Howell stitched a 34-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Curran’s unbeaten knock of 42 in 33 balls went in vain as the Vipers kept on losing wickets throughout the chase. Despite Curran’s solid contribution, the Vipers were reduced to 155 for six after 20 overs.
The Vipers fell 25 runs short of the target after a batting collapse in the later half of the innings.
Earlier in the sunny day at Dubai International Stadium, Vipers’ captain Colin Munro opted to bowl first after winning the toss. English batters Tom Banton and James Vince opened the innings for Gulf Giants, with Sheldon Cottrell taking the new ball.
Both batters began talking in fours and sixes against an inexperienced Shiraz Ahmed. Their early fireworks took the Giants to 55 runs after six overs, at the expense of Banton’s (20) wicket.
Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana removed Chris Lynn (12) in his first over. Later in the ninth over, Benny Howell dismissed a well-established Vince. The Giants’ skipper departed after scoring 39 runs off 23 balls, which included three fours and a couple of sixes.
After 10 overs, the Giants had 89 runs on the board with three down. Caribbean hard-hitter Shimron Hetmyer joined forces with batter Gerhard Erasmus towards the second half of the innings. Both batters added 48 runs to the total before Erasmus (13) departed in the 15th over. His countrymen David Wiese replaced him with the scores reading 129 for four in 14.2 overs.
Hetmyer (54) brought up his fifty before getting dismissed in the 19th over, with the Giants posting a promising total of 180 for six in 20 overs.
Skipper Vince and Hetmyer did the heavy lifting to help the Giants post 180 on the board. Vipers would be happy with the experiment they were trying with three changes to their XI.
Desert Vipers lost their final league game by 25 runs against the Giants in Dubai. Having secured a top-two spot alongside Gulf Giants, the Vipers will make their case even stronger going forward into the playoffs.
Brief Scores:
Gulf Giants180/6 in 20 overs (S Hetmyer 54, J Vince 39, M Pathirana 2/36) defeatedDesert Vipers155/6 in 20 overs (T Curran 42, R Mustafa 28, Aayan Afzal Khan 1/18) by 25 runs.
