Desert Vipers’ spirited all-round effort went in vain as they lost againstDubai Capitalsby five wickets in a pulsatingILT20 2024encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday, February 9.
The Vipers rode onAlex Hales’ 37-ball 66 andPhil Salt’s quick-fire 26 to post 171/7 in their 20 overs. Later, DV bowlers produced an impressive performance to restrict the Capitals’ batters before Sikandar Raza’s last-ball six broke the Vipers’ hearts.
For the Vipers,Sam Curran, Phil Salt andMichael Jonesmade their ILT20 debut in the Dubai derby.
Put into bat, the English duo of Salt and Alex Hales opened the proceedings for the Vipers.
Hales got the Vipers off to a sensational start as he slammed DCP left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava for three maximums and two fours to accumulate 26 runs in the third over.
At the other end, Salt then joined the party as he clobbered Scott Kuggeleijn for a six to bring the Vipers’ fifty in just 3.1 overs.
The opening pair forged a brilliant 66-run stand before Salt departed for a 11-ball 26.
Following Salt’s dismissal,Daniel Lawrencejoined Hales at the crease. The Vipers’ duo continued their attacking approach to put pressure on the bowlers.
Meanwhile, Hales notched up his scintillating half-century off just 25 balls.
Hales and Lawrence added a 34-run partnership for the second wicket to bring the Vipers’ hundred in just eight overs.
However, the Vipers later suffered a huge blow as Lawrence (15) fell to Roelof van der Merwe.
In the middle overs, the Vipers lost momentum as captainColin Munro, Alex Hales,Adam Hoseand Curran departed in short intervals.
Debutant Michael Jones then played a crucial knock of a run-a-ball 20 to power the Vipers to a fighting total on the board.
Defending 171, Curran provided an early breakthrough as he got rid of Max Holden (8) courtesy of a stunning catch by Hose in the second over.
In the following over, star pacerMohammad Amirbagged his first wicket of the game as he cleaned up Ben Dunk (1).
Ali Naseerlater inflicted more misery as he got the massive wicket of Tom Banton (15) to reduce the Capitals to 32/3 inside the powerplay.
In desperate need of a partnership, Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza then made a 79-run stand to bring the Capitals back into the game.
In the 15th over,Matheesha Pathiranaproduced a lethal yorker to remove Billings for 57.
Despite losing Billings, Raza played an impressive knock at the other end. Raza and Dasun Shanaka added 40 runs before the Sri Lankan fell to Curran.
With 21 needed off 12 balls, Scott Kuggeleijn walked out to bat. The pair added eight runs in the 19th over to reduce the deficit to 13 runs.
Skipper Munro gave the final over toAli Naseer to defend 13 runs. The Vipers’ right-arm bowler held his nerves and bowled brilliantly as he conceded just seven runs in his five balls.
However, Raza later hit a match-winning six in the final ball of the game to help the Capitals register a nail-biting five-wicket win in the Dubai derby.
The Vipers will now take on Sharjah Warriors in their final league match of ILT20 2024 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Brief Scores
Desert Vipers171/7 in 20 overs (Alex Hales 66, Phil Salt 26; Roelof van der Merwe 2/19) lost toDubai Capitals172/5 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 60*, Sam Billings 57; Sam Curran 2/39) by 5 wickets
