The Desert Vipers have won Season 4 of the DP World ILT20 after a sensational 46-run win over MI Emirates in the final at the Dubai International Stadium.
Put into bat by MI Emirates, the Desert Vipers got off to a flyer, only to be suddenly halted in their tracks with both openers gone in a single over to leave them at 36 for two.
A rebuild was undertaken by captain Sam Curran (74 not out) and Max Holden (41), who shared a crucial 89-run partnership. Max Holden’s departure saw another vital stand, this time worth 57 runs between the captain and Dan Lawrence (25), helping the Vipers to what turned out to be a winning total of 182 for four in 20 overs.
The Vipers bowlers then kept the pressure on by taking regular wickets, bowling MI Emirates out for 136 in 18.3 overs. David Payne and Naseem Shah took three wickets each while Khuzaima Bin Tanveer and Usman Tariq accounted for two wickets apiece.
Sam Curran was declared Player of the Match, and he was also named Player of the Tournament after finishing as the top run-scorer with 397 runs. Sam contributed seven wickets during the season and also led the team in the absence of injured captain Lockie Ferguson.
Avram Glazer, Executive Co-Chairman and Director at Manchester United and Principal, Lancer Capital, Phil Oliver, CEO of Desert Vipers, and Tom Moody, Director of Cricket of Desert Vipers with the winning trophy during the final of the DP World International League T20 between Desert Vipers and MI Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 4 January 2026.
Photo by CREIMAS / ILT20
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Match Scores:
Toss: MI Emirates
Desert Vipers: 182/4 (20 overs)
Top scorer: Sam Curran 74 not out (off 51 deliveries)
MI Emirates: 136 (18.3 overs)
Top scorer: Shakib Al Hasan 36 (27)
Match Result: Desert Vipers won by 46 runs
Player of the Match: Sam Curran
Player of the tournament: Sam Curran
Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match vodcast and podcast featuring James Foster, Phil Oliver, David Payne and Usman Tariq:
James Foster on finally winning the trophy after missing out on two previous occasions, in Seasons 1 and 3:
“It feels really good, if I am honest, it has been four years in the making. We have been so close two other times, but we kept believing ultimately, and we have been a very consistent side over the four years and to get the victory today means a lot.
“It means a lot to a lot of people actually, obviously not just the players actually doing the hard yards on the field, but everyone behind the scenes who work so hard and do it in such a great way, in such a great manner.
“I am just delighted for the whole franchise, I know that can be a throwaway line at times, but the whole franchise, everyone involved, I am absolutely tickled pink for them.”
James Foster on Sam Curran as a leader, and Player of the Tournament once again, having finished with the same accolade in Season 3:
“He is an amazing man – the character he shows time and time again. The Curran brothers have this desire, this fight and this love for and thirst for massive occasions, which is not an easy thing to do.
“So often he just puts his hand up, and he has got back into the England side and I am delighted for him, he has been excellent in leading, we have had two phenomenal leaders this season in Lockie (Ferguson) and Sam.
“I am absolutely gutted for Lockie as he has worked so hard and he has put so much into this group, for him not to be here today, but I know he has been messaging a lot on the (team’s WhatsApp) group. We gained two great leaders and as a coaching group, we are so lucky to have those two guys leading the show for the franchise.”
Phil Oliver, Desert Vipers CEO on the win:
“It is an amazing feeling and just look at these scenes with friends, families, all the players, all the staff enjoying this moment together. This is what it is all about, and I am so very proud of everyone. It is just a fantastic moment that we all hoped would happen and it was only really right at the end there we thought ‘we are going to do this.’ It is just an amazing feeling, the best you can get in cricket.”
David Payne on the win for the Desert Vipers and what it means:
“Amazing. These sorts of moments do not usually sink in until the next couple of days, but yes, (I am) overjoyed at the moment. I am really, really proud for the Vipers, the whole family outside, on the field, off the field.
“I think it is a real team effort, a real franchise effort from everyone on and off the field, so it feels really nice to be able to do this for the Desert Vipers.”
