In this episode we preview the final of the tournament in the company of captain Lockie Ferguson with the Vipers preparing to face the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday night, the 9th of February.

Sadly, the hamstring injury Lockie picked up in Qualifier 1 on March the 5th means he won’t be able to play in the big game but he took time to chat with us en route to the team’s pre-final media commitments and offered us his thoughts on the Vipers progress to the final and where he thinks that final will be won and lost.

If you want tickets for the match then get along to the link at the bottom of the podcast description for this episode or visit the DP World ILT20’s website.

The Vipers are within touching distance of lifting the title for the first time – and everyone is hoping that, after finishing as runners-up in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2023, finally this is the year for the side to get their hands on the silverware.

Here’s thelinkfor match tickets.

This episode comes off the back of a heartbreaking loss to the Dubai Capitals in the Qualifier with the Capitals winning by five wickets off the very last ball to secure a spot in Sunday’s final.

For the Vipers it means that in order to join them they have to do it the hard way, playing against the winners of the eliminator between MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz that takes place in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night.

That next game for the Vipers comes up quickly, on Friday night in Sharjah and the equation is a simple one – two wins will see the team lifting the title for the first time; anything less and it’s a season with nothing to show for the efforts of the players and staff.

Coming up we reflect on the defeat at the Dubai International Stadium in the company of Head Coach James Foster and fast bowler David Payne.

But before we do so, a reminder that there’s still time for you to catch the Vipers in action this season. If you want to watch that eliminator in Sharjah on Friday the 7th of February then you can buy tickets via the link below the description for this podcast or via the DP World ILT20’s own website.

Friday’s game is an all or nothing match for the Vipers so it should be very much worth your trouble to catch it!

Here’s thelinkfor match tickets.

This is an episode with a difference. The day after the team’s last-ball defeat to the Dubai Capitals in the Qualifier, two of the coaches, bowling coach Carl Crowe and fielding coach Simon Helmot, meet up with eight players involved with the UAE women’s team for a session at the JA Resort’s dedicated cricket facility in Jebel Ali.

The idea behind the session was three-fold: following on from the work the Vipers are doing in schools across Dubai, this was another opportunity for the franchise to help develop UAE cricket beyond simply playing in the DP World ILT20; it was a chance for the women to interact with overseas coaches they would not otherwise have the chance to work with; and it gave the Vipers coaches sight of the type of talent that is coming through the system in the UAE.

Coming up we hear from both Carl and Simon on their experience of the session on Thursday morning, and we also hear from Esha Oza, the UAE women’s captain, a player who was recently named the ICC women’s Associate Player of the Year, and one of the players who took part in the coaching clinic.

The session was certainly an opportunity for Simon and Carl to clear their heads after that loss to the Capitals ahead of a winner-takes-all match in Sharjah on Friday night against either MI Emirates or Sharjah Warriorz, with a place in Sunday’s final against the Capitals up for grabs.

And if you want to watch that match in Sharjah or any others that remain in the third edition of the DP World ILT20 then you can purchase tickets via the tournament website or at the link below the description for this podcast.

It’s a do-or-die game for the Vipers in Sharjah on Friday so whatever happens it promises to be must-watch action.

Here’s thelinkfor match tickets.