The Desert Vipers lost their final group match of the DP World ILT20, to the Gulf Giants, by a margin of 25 runs at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday afternoon.The Vipers made three changes to the line-up from their previous outing against the Dubai Capitals with Wanindu Hasaranga, Luke Wood and Gus Atkinson given a break, at the end of a gruelling schedule of five matches in eight days. Choosing to bowl first, Colin Munro’s team were set a target of 181 to win, but after a rapid start the Vipers stumbled, lost wickets in clusters, and fell short of that target. Shimron Hetmyer’s 54 off 35 deliveries for the Gulf Giants earned him the Player of the Match award.Match Scores:Gulf Giants: 180/6(20 overs)Desert Vipers: 155/6(20 overs)Match Result:Gulf Giants won by 25 runs.Player of the Match: Shimron Hetmyer 54 (35)Here are some quotes from Tom Curran from the post-match media conference:“We definitely struggled and losing wickets in clusters didn’t help. But absolutely, when I was batting, I thought we could win. I just could not get it over the line there.“We are looking forward to some rest and recovery. We have played some really good cricket through the tournament and that allowed us the luxury of resting some of our bowlers today. Hopefully a couple of days of recharging, and then we get set and go back to training on Monday and Tuesday before the game on Wednesday.“I think they got too many runs to be honest. It was not a straightforward wicket, and it was pretty dry and pretty slow, and we probably got it a bit wrong with the ball. But that can happen. A lot of those guys have not bowled a lot in this competition. I think they (Gulf Giants) got about 20-odd more runs than they should have. There was a stage where we looked like we were going nicely, but we lost too many wickets.“We needed over twelve an over or maybe fourteen, so we needed boundaries, and I was trying to clear the fence. I thought if I faced the majority of the balls and got two or three boundaries an over, we would get close to the target. But it was not quite enough.“We will be treating it (qualifier against Gulf Giants on February 8) like a knockout game, and trying to get another extra day of recovery before the final and taking that momentum. We have played some really good cricket throughout this tournament and that shows as we are top of the table, and although tonight’s game was not ideal, I don’t think it will affect the group.”Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices podcast interview with Head Coach James Foster:“It was a disappointing day for us today, we were nowhere near our best, but that can happen in T20 cricket. You can be flying and sometimes the odd rogue performance comes in. But we move on, it was the last game of the group stage, we have qualified, we are in a great position, and (we have been) playing really well in the campaign. So, we are looking forward to the qualifier.“I thought it (Gulf Giants’ score of 180) was above par. With the way the wicket played it was slow, and if you were smart and disciplined with your bowling it was hard to score. But in the same breath it wasn’t the worst wicket either. With the start we got, we got off to a flyer, and we were well above the rate, but unfortunately once the opening partnership was broken, we didn’t really have a lot to throw at them and we didn’t have many answers. So, it wasn’t our best batting, bowling or fielding display. But we have been playing really well in this campaign, and there is still a lot of confidence in the group.“We have made mistakes in the field, and we are very aware of that. We have a nice little break and then a couple of days of training and this is an opportunity for us to top up on all our skills.“We have had to be smart, especially with this last five-game block, and overall. Playing ten games in twenty-one days does not happen very often in T20 cricket. It is very arduous, and with some back-to-back games and then (a schedule of) on and off and on and off it is tough work for players. There is a lot of adrenaline and mileage and energy that is spent when you play this game, so you have to be smart. You can’t just put guys out (to play) all the time, in my opinion. I hope we are going to get that benefit (of our approach of allowing players to recover) later on in this competition.“We have a day off tomorrow (Sunday) and then two optional training sessions. Individuals know what they want to get out of the next three days. One of the keys is to make sure that everyone is mentally and physically fresh and then we will be absolutely ready for February the eighth.”

Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha has been drafted into the Desert Vipers squad for the DP World ILT20.Ojha, 39, comes in as a replacement for Dinesh Chandimal who has been called up for domestic duty by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. Ojha is expected to join the squad on February 5, ahead of the Vipers’ first play-off game, on February 8 in Dubai.Desert Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody said: “We’re sorry that we’re losing Chandimal; although he didn’t play, he was a superb influence around the squad and provided great back-up to Sam Billings; we’re delighted to get Naman in as his replacement.“He’s a player who’s played at the top-level, has played high-level franchise cricket in the IPL and he’s someone I have worked with at Hyderabad, so I know his qualities. He will be a terrific addition to the squad as we move to the business end of the DP World ILT20.”The wicket-keeper batsman meanwhile is thrilled at the opportunity to join the Desert Vipers and Naman Ojha said: “I am really excited about being part of the Desert Vipers team in the DP World ILT20. After retiring in 2021, I have been looking for wicket-keeping and batting opportunities in franchise teams. So, this is a terrific opportunity for me.“I have been following the DP world ILT20 for the last two weeks, and I find this tournament really interesting. It is being played in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, where conditions are similar to those in India, so I feel if I have the chance to play, I can make a difference to the team I am picked for.”Naman Ojha began his cricket career playing for the Madhya Pradesh side in 2000-01 as a 17-year-old, and he has represented India one Test (2015 against Sri Lanka), a One Day International and two T20 Internationals.On the domestic circuit Ojha has played 146 First Class matches, 143 List A and 182 T20 games, with impressive tallies of 9753, 4,278 and 2,972 runs respectively. Following that successful two decade long domestic career Ojha retired from all forms of cricket in 2021 with the aim of exploring opportunities in global franchise leagues. He has played for the Indian Premier League sides Hyderabad Sunrisers, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).

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.