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Lawrence, Naseem hold nerve in thrilling Super Over win!

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Lawrence, Naseem hold nerve in thrilling Super Over win!

The Desert Vipers became a part of DP World ILT20 history on Monday night, as they participated in and won the first ever super over of the tournament. 

Set a target of 180 to win by the Gulf Giants, the Desert Vipers got off to a shaky start, and it was up to the middle order to balance the innings out. This was a role played ably by stand-in captain Sam Curran and Player of the Match Dan Lawrence. Curran scored 44 and Lawrence finished with 56. 

And while this pair was unable to finish the job, the Vipers tail conspired to force a super over. For the Vipers, after Lawrence and Shimron Hetmyer had scored 13, that over was bowled by the very talented and highly skilled Naseem Shah.

The Pakistani fast bowler later said he had already been in the ice bath and begun cooling down as no one had imagined the possibility of additional action. 

But Naseem did get back on the field with his team-mates and bowled a sensation over under high pressure to deliver for his team a successful outcome. 

Match Scores: 
Toss: Desert Vipers 

Gulf Giants: 179/5 (20 overs)
Top scorer: Pathum Nissanka 56 (29 deliveries)

Desert Vipers: 179/9 (20 overs)
Top scorer: Dan Lawrence 56 (31 deliveries)

Match Result: Desert Vipers won through the super over. 

Player of the Match: Dan Lawrence

Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match vodcast and podcast featuring Desert Vipers stand-in captain Sam Curran:

On the close finish and the Desert Vipers finishing on the winning side after the first ever super over in the DP World ILT20 :

“It is one of those games where we fell on the right side of it. But it is a really good sign, I think, for our team. I think we are still way off our best.

“I think those super overs have got to be quite tactical, I guess. We thought the left-right (combination) with Hetty (Shimron Hetmyer) and Dan (Lawrence) was the right option.

“We obviously did not know who they were going to bowl so it was a case of who was going to show their cards first.

“Dan had a beautiful strike (for six), and he scored a couple of twos. And I think a score of 13 or 14 is obviously a really good one. The wicket was a little bit on the slower side. And then Naseem was great. He held his nerve after a tough first ball. But what a game of cricket.

“What a great game for the tournament as well. And it is never nice losing those super overs. But to win, it is obviously a nice little feeling.

“I think we have still got a lot of areas of our game we want to get better. But to be sitting at three wins out of three obviously brings great confidence for the team and the environment. But we will be straight back into action tomorrow.”

On how the run chase of 180 to win became quite difficult after some early wickets were lost, and how he and Dan Lawrence had to step in and settle the innings:  

“I guess it has been the trend of probably our last couple of games where we have lost a couple of wickets really early. So Dan and I decided to just try to consolidate for five or six overs and try and give ourselves a platform, which I thought we did.

“And then I guess when we got to that stage where we really needed to pull the trigger I got out, which was frustrating. And then Dan had a couple of nice hits again to get his 50 and then Hetty (Hetmyer) added a couple of nice strikes. It always felt like we were just one or two hits away.

“Khuzi (Khuzaima bin Tanveer) struck a lovely six, and Ritzy (Vriitya Aravind) got a couple of twos that were crucial to get us that super over. So those are the small things that help you win these games or tie these games.

“I did feel like we had done really well to get that close, I guess. And then a super over is a little bit of luck in a way. But I am not complaining.”

On Dan Lawrence’s Player of the Match-winning knock of 56:

Dan Lawrence of Desert Vipers during the Super Over in Match 8 of the DP World International League T20 between the Desert Vipers and the Gulf Giants, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 8 December 2025. Photo by CREIMAS / ILT20 RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

“He is striking the ball lovely. He has been playing really well the last couple of seasons, especially even in the summer with me back at Surrey. He got a lovely hundred from memory and he just has been striking the ball really well.

“It looks like his game is in really good place and he is confident and he is obviously bowling really well as well, which is great for the side. And I think he used his smarts tonight, picking the big side, small side and picking his bowlers. 

“And to get 50 off 30 on that wicket was a hell of a knock. He will be really pleased and hopefully it continues for us.”

On his own knock of 44:

“I have been a little bit scratchy the last few games, so when you get scores of 20s and 40s and when you are not feeling at your fluent best, these are good signs. I will take a bit of confidence from that.

“And hopefully again tomorrow night in Abu Dhabi, I can get going. I think we are three from three and the group is in a really good place, which is great because I do not actually feel like we are playing near our best at all.

“I think the coaching staff will agree and so will the players. So we will talk tonight, have a quick assess of where we can get better and turn around tomorrow”

On the team’s chances of doing well against MI Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday:

“I feel like this year the standard of players and the quality across all teams is good and everyone is getting used to the conditions. 

“MI are always a quality outfit and we obviously have got a quick turnaround.

“So the plan is to get to bed, have a good feed and then focus on them in the morning. It is our first game at Abu Dhabi this season and it is normally a great wicket.

“So, hopefully we can play really well. But I think the best thing is we focus on ourselves. We are confident at the moment and fingers crossed we can win again and go four from four.

“It is a process to do that and we are really looking forward to the challenge.”

The Desert Vipers next play the MI Emirates at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, December the 9th, starting at 6:30 pm.

Tickets for all Desert Vipers matches are now available here

Wilde thing makes the data sing: Vipers’ analyst unmasked

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Wilde thing makes the data sing: Vipers’ analyst unmasked

The Desert Vipers have a secret weapon in their armoury, someone who does not bowl a ball, or spend a single second at the crease, and yet is central to the team’s performance and success. 

Freddie Wilde is one of the best regarded analysts in the world, and he has been a part of the Desert Vipers cricket set-up since Season 1 of the DP World ILT20. His inputs have played a significant role in helping the franchise reach two of the three finals of the tournament so far.

Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast the Head Analyst, who has also played a similar role for the England men’s white ball team, the Oval Invincibles and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League, lifted the veil on the role of an analyst in a team.

And Freddie said it was no longer about recording every ball or preparing video clips for the players.

“Generally now, the data is collected for you so I do not have to sit there and code the match. My job is to analyse the data that will then help in preparation for players. 

“It could be helping our own players get better, what you can do to sort of stifle the opposition and sometimes it is fairly basic things like providing footage to a player of their bowling from a game. 

“Other times it is slightly more complicated, like coming up with plans and then, more recently, there have obviously been auctions and drafts.”

“I have known our CEO Phil Oliver for a long time, and I have known Tom Moody from The Hundred as I worked with him at the Oval Invincibles.

“So, when they got involved at the Vipers, I was one of the early people they spoke to and I have been involved in helping to build the squads throughout all four seasons.

“This is actually the first season I am doing in full on site. I have done some work for the franchise remotely, as my other roles with other teams have often meant I was not able to be here, but this year I am and I am loving it.

“My work really starts with player recruitment, talking to Moods (Director of Cricket Tom Moody) and Fozzy (Head Coach James Foster) primarily about who we should retain from our previous squad or, if we are starting very much from scratch, who we want to sign.

“So, it begins at that recruitment stage and goes all the way through until after the season when I would probably complete a review and then there might be a few months of quiet downtime in between the two seasons before you get back stuck into it when you know retentions and the auction comes around again.”

In October the DP World ILT20 held its first ever player auction and Freddie Wilde was heavily involved in the process, even though he was not physically present.

“I was not actually there on the table – I was unable to attend – but I was online. My role was to identify targets, based on the retentions that we had made, and the direct signings that we had made. It was a case of what were the holes in our team, and where did we need backups.  

“I created lists of different players who could fit in those roles. I talked to the coaches, looked at some data, some numbers, sometimes some footage, and tried to rank those lists. 

“It was quite complex, to look at the order in which the players came out, and to decide whether to bid for them or not.

“On the day, I also kept track of what the other squads were doing, how much money they had left, and what slots they had to fill.

“For example, there could be a situation where everyone was in the market for a fast bowler, but as other teams started to sign their fast bowlers maybe the competition for that spot was diminishing and therefore, we could have been able to get our target. It meant I also had to stay across all of the other five teams (and what they were doing).”

Wilde said his services were not a one-size-fits-all for the players and support staff.

“There are some players who are very instinctive players who generally do not want, or even sometimes need, that information. 

“It is actually part of their strength that they play the game in an instinctive manner and there is an argument that, if you were to provide information, it might be something that stifles that free-flowing way of playing.

“On the whole though, as an analyst, I would say the information that I provide I think can help and make players be able to perform better, whether that be a heads-up of the opposition or to improve their own game.

“At the same time, you have got to be careful about how you pass that (information) over because at the end of the day it is a game, those guys are out there playing, I have not played, and you know there are some things, there are nuances I suppose as an analyst, you cannot quite get to. But, more often than not, I think I have got information that can help.”

When asked about how closely an analyst is involved in team meetings and what role they play at those meetings Wilde said he offered information and then it was up to the players and staff to use that to build strategies.

“It depends on the different team environments,” he said. “There are some teams that have far fewer meetings, some teams that have more. Here at the Vipers we have small batting, pace bowling and spin bowling meetings in the lead into games and I am heavily involved in them.

“I provide quite a bit of information, information that I would have prepared on opposition players or the venue, and then it is more of a prompt for a discussion among the players. 

“So, I am involved but it is kind of the stimulus rather than a key active participant. The players are then the ones who start discussing the information that I would have given them.”

Wilde also offered an insider’s view of his role on match day.

“On match day itself, often I will have a coffee with Fozzy and just make sure we are on the same page about a lot of the things we spoke about in the meetings before –if there are any last-minute changes to selection, maybe certain conditions or boundary dimensions might (have) changed our thinking around certain options (such as) who should start the first over, the second over, or structuring the power play. Those kind of finer details get talked about on match day.

“When you get to the ground it might be the coaches might look at the pitch and decide that things are slightly different and they might then ask me for some data on maybe batting first and bowling first and we might reconsider our toss decisions. 

“It is tweaking things that we have already talked about rather than large scale changes because generally you should have made those decisions earlier.

“Once the match starts there would be conversations sometimes around batting orders. (For example) you might flip a right-hander and a left-hander for a certain match-up or  when there is a timeout you might (pass on information that) this bowler could be a good option or a potential field change.

“I often sit just on the back row of the dugout with the coaches because it makes it easier for me to talk to them. So, it is smaller details on match day but then every edge is important.”

And the million-dollar question: how hard is it to stay on top of all the cricket games going on across the world, and how big is Freddie Wilde’s database?

“It is a very large database,” he said. “If there is any game of professional cricket played in the world now, it is logged, recorded and coded and put into the database. 

“Thankfully it is not my job to do that, and I can imagine if it was, it would be impossible to do nowadays, because there is just so much cricket being played. 

“With technology, it is something that a team of people work on and stay on top of. Everyday there are hundreds of games, and thousands of rows of ball-by-ball data coming into the database. You need quite powerful software to interrogate that. It is a difficult job to stay on top of all that.

“You have to choose which games are worth following and this is the busiest time in world cricket. Just staying on top of all the different games is difficult. There are ways to do that, you set up spreadsheets and some teams have apps to monitor player performance.”

Hetmyer & Khuzaima fireworks sink ADKR

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Hetmyer & Khuzaima fireworks sink ADKR

The Desert Vipers pulled off a hard-fought two-wicket win over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) in Sharjah and now have two wins from two games. 

ADKR reached 100 for one in 11 overs but the Vipers fought back through some excellent bowling from debutant Qais Ahmad (two for 29), Noor Ahmad (two for 35) and Naseem Shah (one for 28) with the latter’s final over to big-hitter Andre Russell costing only five runs.

Top-score for ADKR was former Viper Alex Hales, with 53 from 37 balls.

The Vipers stuttered early on in their chase before player of the match Shimron Hetmyer (48 from 25 balls) and Dan Lawrence (35 in 32 balls) added 68 for the fifth wicket, and at 134 for four in the 16th over, the team seemed well-placed for a comfortable win.

But when both players fell in quick succession, the match was back in the balance and it took a superb cameo from Khuzaima bin Tanveer, with an unbeaten 31 from 12 deliveries to see the side home with three balls in hand. 

Match Scores: 

Toss: Desert Vipers 
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders:  171/6 (20 overs)
Top scorer: Alex Hales 53 (37 balls)
Desert Vipers: 175/8 (19.3 overs)
Top scorer: Shimron Hetmyer 48 (25 deliveries)
Match Result: The Desert Vipers won by two wickets
Player of the Match: Shimron Hetmyer 48 (25)

Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match vodcast and podcast featuring Dan Lawrence:

On Khuzaima Bin Tanveer’s heroics at the end to take the Desert Vipers to victory:

“We have worked out he is an absolute gem of a cricketer. His bowling obviously speaks for itself. He started really well last year with the ball, and he is carrying that on this year and, to be honest, I did not know he could strike a cricket ball like that.

“He really dug us out of a hole there and pretty much single-handedly won the game on his own there so congratulations to him and it puts us in really good stead now.”

On how the game swung in and out of favour of the Vipers until the very end:  

“It was a funny game of cricket. There were periods of that game where it felt like we were in total control and then there were a few periods where we felt like we were right up against it. 

“They came at us quite hard with the ball and we lost three early wickets. Then we had a period of consolidation there in the middle and then when me and Hetty (Shimron Hetmyer) were batting we thought we had it in the bag. Then we both got out at pretty tricky times and it was a hell of an effort from Kuzi (Khuzaima Bin Tanveer) at the end to see us over the line.”

On his own knock and where things went wrong:

“I thought I played well up to that point (of getting out). I was just trying to assess the game situation and understood that it was not going to be a kind of a glamorous innings and I was not going to strike at 200 (runs per hundred balls). I just tried to anchor the game and try and take it as deep as possible and the plan was working until me and Hettie got out.

“But we are not playing anywhere near our best cricket at the moment and we are two from two so these are really promising signs.”

On bowling to Sherfane Rutherford and getting his wicket :  

“The plan was when a left-hander came in there was going to be a decent chance that I was going to bowl an over. So as soon as he (Sherfane Rutherford) came in I came on to bowl. Thankfully he had just walked in, and he had not got his eye in because obviously we all know how dangerous he is, I managed to spin a couple in my first over and get the wicket which was a great feeling.

“It was nice to bowl a good over but I think the two other spinners were the stars of the show today, Noor (Ahmad) showing his class as he always does and Qais (Ahmad) bowled beautifully as well.”

On Shimron Hetmyer going after Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ two West Indies players Sunil Narine and Andre Russell:

“I do not think there is any such thing as respect between West Indians when they play against each other. I think Hettie (Shimron Hetmyer) always wanted to get after Sunil Narine and Andre Russell when they came on. 

“So it was great viewing from the other end watching a world-class batter face a world-class spinner (Narine). Hettie got his day today and he played him really well and that was a big two balls in the game when he hit him for two sixes in a row.”

On the team’s chances of doing well against the Gulf Giants on Monday In Dubai:

“Every team in this competition, if you look through the names and the team sheets that are being put out, is really world-class this year, and you are going to have to play well to win any of these games.

“I am sure we are going to treat them (Gulf Giants) with the same respect we have treated the other two teams and we will do our planning and hopefully go three from three.”

The Desert Vipers next play the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday, December the 8th, starting at 6:30 pm.

Tickets for all Desert Vipers matches are now available here

Vipers partner with Carbon Happy AI Tracker

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Vipers partner with Carbon Happy AI Tracker

The Desert Vipers are taking an intelligent, decisive, and pragmatic step forward in their commitment to ‘Playing with purpose for people and planet’. The franchise is proud to announce a landmark partnership with Carbon Happy World, a leading sustainability technology provider within the ILT20 ecosystem.

This collaboration is a commitment to leadership and accountability, leveraging cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to gain a transparent and credible understanding of the team’s impact on people, planet, and place. 

Embracing the core value of Innovation, the Desert Vipers are one of the first organisations to adopt the Carbon Happy AI Tracker. This adaptable algorithm ensures that they remain at the forefront of technology, allowing them to be both accountable and pragmatic by enabling the franchise to:

Proactively Forecast
Use predictive AI to model future scenarios, enabling decisive, proactive sustainability decisions – moving them beyond being reactive.

Ensure Credible Transparency
Guarantee the unquestionable accuracy and reliability of their environmental data, upholding a commitment to full transparency and straight-talking communication.

Drive Practical Innovation
Identify opportunities to implement groundbreaking, practical, and sustainable practices across all facets of the organisation.

Respond Strategically
Equip them to strategically address the complex environmental and social challenges facing global sports organisations today with unwavering commitment.

Matt Bailey, Head of Strategy at Desert Vipers, said:

“The Desert Vipers are proudly rooted in the dynamic landscape of the UAE, and our identity is inextricably linked to the region’s commitment to a sustainable future. Our sustainability journey is about leadership and accountability, not just compliance. This technology provides the unprecedented, granular detail we need to assess our footprint, from team travel and venue operations to fan engagement – ensuring we are responsible and transparent stewards of our environment.”

Ben Hardy-Jones, Business Sustainability Lead at Desert Vipers, commented:

“At the Desert Vipers, we are committed to being leaders, not just in cricket, but in social and environmental responsibility. Partnering with Carbon Happy World and adopting the Carbon Happy AI Tracker is a game-changer. It allows us to apply the same strategic, data-driven mindset we use to build a winning team to build a sustainable future.”

Gary Adlen, CEO at Carbon Happy World, added:

“The Desert Vipers embody the spirit of innovation and brave leadership and are the ideal partner to showcase the power of the Carbon Happy AI Tracker. We are excited to support their vision to not only understand their impact but to leverage that knowledge to drive real, meaningful, and credible change within the world of sport.”

This initiative demonstrates how a modern sports franchise can use intelligent, straight-talking technology to build a sustainable legacy that benefits their fans, their community, and the planet.

About Carbon Happy World

At Carbon Happy World, we’re dedicated carbon accountants and ESG software consultants. We empower businesses to measure, manage, and significantly reduce carbon emissions. By providing a range of innovative solutions and insights, we help organisations achieve their carbon net zero goals and genuinely enhance their sustainability practices. As at Carbon Happy World every calculation starts a conversation. 

Vipers Voices: Dan Lawrence

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Vipers Voices: Dan Lawrence

The Desert Vipers have made it two wins from two matches at the start of Season 4 of the DP World ILT20, this time beating the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by two wickets with three balls in hand at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

In this episode we hear from Dan Lawrence, who made 35 from 32 balls and also took the key wicket of ex-Vipers batter Sherfane Rutherford.

The Vipers restricted a powerful ADKR batting line-up top 171 for six before chasing down the target, thanks not only to Dan but also player of the match Shimron Hetmyer, who made 48 from 25 balls, and a superb cameo from Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, who belted an unbeaten 31 from 12 balls to see the side to victory after 19 were needed from the final two overs.

Ellington Properties joins The Desert Vipers as back-of-shirt sponsor

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Ellington Properties joins The Desert Vipers as back-of-shirt sponsor

The Desert Vipers are pleased to announce Ellington Properties, one of Dubai’s leading design-led real estate developers, as their back-of-shirt sponsor for a period of one year.

The award-winning  Ellington Properties was founded in 2014 in Dubai, and this partnership underlines the Desert Vipers’ commitment to engage with local businesses in the UAE.

Under this agreement, players will feature the Ellington Properties logo on the back of their matchday and training shirts. 

The commercial partnership between the Desert Vipers and Ellington Properties represents the coming together of two exciting domains, that of real estate and sport. 

Desert Vipers and Ellington Properties are active in the local community, providing top-quality expertise in their respective areas of operation. 

The Desert Vipers’ Schools Programme reached over 10,000 students over the past year, and their recently launched Talent Pathway Programme was created to identify and develop local talent with a focus on high-performance. 

Winner of multiple awards across its residential portfolio, Ellington Properties has shaped Dubai’s living experience since 2014 through design-led development anchored in quality, detail, and architectural integrity. From high-rise residences to thoughtfully planned communities, Ellington continues to create spaces that reflect how people want to live today, with greater intention, comfort, and long-term value.

The partnership with the Desert Vipers reflects Ellington’s belief in backing platforms that inspire ambition, discipline, and community pride. By supporting one of the UAE’s most dynamic sporting franchises, Ellington contributes to the continued growth of cricket locally, while helping create broader engagement opportunities for fans and future talent.

This collaboration brings together two brands committed to performance, progress, and community impact, united by a shared drive to elevate experiences in the UAE, on and off the field.

The Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver welcomed the new partner and said: “We are thrilled to have Ellington Properties as our back-of-shirt sponsor,” he said. “As a sports team located in the UAE, we aim to work with local businesses that align with our values and commitment to excellence. Ellington Properties is an ideal partner.

“They are a leading real estate developer in the UAE, and we look forward to the many opportunities this partnership will bring as we continue to establish ourselves here.”

Joseph Thomas, Co-Founder of Ellington Properties, said: “Great design and great sport have something important in common – both are built on discipline, detail, and the belief that consistency creates excellence. Our partnership with the Desert Vipers reflects our commitment to supporting initiatives that energise communities and inspire the next generation. As a UAE-grown company, we are proud to stand behind a team that represents ambition, high performance, and local momentum.”

Yolo247 Games joins as Vipers’ Official Front of Jersey partner

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Yolo247 Games joins as Vipers’ Official Front of Jersey partner

The Desert Vipers are pleased to announce that the franchise has agreed to a major commercial partnership with the Yolo247 Games, a  leading online gaming platform that innovates across the digital gaming industry. 

The agreement will see the team, which is playing in the DP World ILT20 tournament in the UAE, have Yolo247 Games branding on the front of the playing and training shirts.  

The one-year agreement covers the ongoing edition of the DP World ILT20, which began on December 2. 

Desert Vipers Chief Executive Officer Phil Oliver said: “We are delighted to welcome Yolo247 Games to the Desert Vipers family for Season 4 of the DP World ILT20.

“This brand is instantly recognisable across the realm of online gaming, and Yolo247 Games is constantly pioneering in the space of gaming to bring the best product to its customers. 

“It is this commitment to quality and innovation that brings Yolo247 Games and the Desert Vipers together. 

“We take their decision to partner with us as a sign of confidence in what we have built at the Desert Vipers – a strong, well-run franchise on and off the pitch.

“Our partnership is also an illustration of the strength of the tournament, which, as well as attracting top players and coaching staff from all over the world, can also attract high-profile brands like the Yolo247 Games.

“We look forward to working with them and, after finishing as runners-up in the first and third editions of the tournament, going one step further in Season 4 by lifting the trophy in January.”

Vinod D’Souza, CMO of Yolo247 Games, commented:

“We are thrilled to partner with the Desert Vipers for the upcoming DP World ILT20. The Vipers have a fantastic reputation, with a roster of very talented players competing in a tournament that is rapidly gaining momentum. Collaborating with them is a natural fit for us.

“Their dedication to engaging with the local community and nurturing new cricket talent demonstrates their resolve to establish a strong presence in the UAE, which aligns perfectly with our brand.

“Having reached the finals in two of the three tournaments so far, the Vipers have proven themselves as an elite team, and we are excited to see if they can take the top spot this time.”

The DP World ILT20 brings together cricketing talent from all over the world, providing a showcase for UAE players and players from Associate countries, in particular. 

This year, the addition of players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia has given a new dimension to this tournament, adding greater value to cricket in the region.

Gous smacks 58 to lead Vipers’ victory

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Gous smacks 58 to lead Vipers’ victory

The Desert Vipers opened Season 4 with a four-wicket win against The Dubai Capitals, a team they remained winless against through Season 3, including a closely fought final. 

Set a target of 151 to win, the Vipers chased it down with an over to spare. 

Having won the toss, Desert Vipers captain Sam Curran – standing in for Lockie Ferguson, who is on the verge of a comeback from a hamstring injury – chose for the team to field first. 

Noor Ahmad, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer and David Payne took two wickets apiece while Naseem Shah and Sam Curran completed the tally with one wicket each. Noor Ahmad was the most economical of the quintet, on his Vipers debut, proving once again why he is considered one of the world’s best bowlers in this format.

The chase was dominated by Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman and USA wicket-keeper batter Andries Gous who led the charge. Zaman finished with 26 off 15 deliveries, while Gous earned himself Player of the Match with a well struck 58 off just 36 deliveries. 

The side endured a brief wobble from 108 for two to 133 for six before Dan Lawrence (19 not out) and Khuzaima bin Tanveer (12 not out) saw the side home with six balls in hand.

Match Scores: 

Toss: Desert Vipers

Dubai Capitals: 150/8

Top scorer: Rovman Powell 39(22 deliveries)

Desert Vipers: 151/6 (19 overs)

Top scorer: Andries Gous 58(36 deliveries)

Match Result: Desert Vipers won by 4 wickets 

Player of the Match: Andries Gous

Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match vodcast and podcast featuring USA wicketkeeper batter Andries Gous

On playing a winning knock for the team:

“It is good (to do well) when you come into a new team, because you are eager to start well, and I have done that now. It is a nice feeling to get going from the start, so yes I am pretty happy about that.

“I knew I was watching the ball well and I was getting myself into good positions. And then I just told myself, just react to whatever was coming my way, and thankfully it worked out today.”

On how difficult or easy it was to keep to Afghanistan spin bowler Noor Ahmad:  

“Noor is just world-class. I have never quite known which way it is spinning when I am batting against him. It is just tough. I am just happy he is on our team. 

“But he is truly world-class and it is an unbelievable challenge for me keeping for him.

“I think it will just make my keeping better. But, yes, it is nice keeping to these world-class players and experiencing the different approach of these bowlers. It has been an honour.”

On whether coming into this tournament right after playing the T10 in Abu Dhabi was helpful:

“Yes I think it gave me some confidence. I finished quite well in the last four games of the T10. It almost feels like you have so much time now.

“The T10 was just very quick and you have just got to go from ball one. This just felt like I could take my time, I could just watch the ball and react, and then whatever happened, I could adjust from it. So, it has been pretty cool so far.”

On the team’s chances of doing well against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Sharjah on Friday:

“I think the sky is the limit for this team. We have got unbelievable batting depth, and then we showed tonight that our bowling is just world-class.

“I think the staff and the management have recruited beautifully and we have got a really good side. As long as we stick to our skills and execute our skills, I think we are going to be hard to beat.”

The Desert Vipers next play the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday, December 5th, starting at 6:30 pm.

Tickets for all Desert Vipers matches are now available here.

Vipers Voices: Andries Gous

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Vipers Voices: Andries Gous

We catch up with our explosive opening bat, Andries Gous

Foster: we’ll keep it simple

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Foster: we’ll keep it simple

Desert Vipers Head Coach James Foster has said that “keeping things really simple” will be the best recipe for success in this season’s DP World ILT20.

The Vipers go into the opening match of the tournament on Tuesday the 2nd of December, against the Dubai Capitals in a repeat of last season’s final, having played in the ultimate match twice without being able to secure the silverware.

But, rather than thinking about that too much, Foster told the Vipers Voices podcast that focusing on what was in front of the squad, instead of thinking too far ahead, was the mindset he wanted from his players.

“It is just (about) keeping things really simple,” he said. “Yes, we have got the goal to win the tournament, just the same as every other team, but (for us) it is just keeping things really simple.

“I know players will say it is about one game at a time, but it really is breaking it down as much as that, seeing where we are at, and just putting in our best performances or giving ourselves the best chance to be putting in our best performances every single time that we go out in the field.”

The eve-of-match practice session at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City was the first time all the squad had been together, with Khuzaima bin Tanveer, Qais Ahmad and Andries Gous all involved in the latter stages of the T10 tournament in Abu Dhabi, while Tom Bruce was a late arrival after domestic commitments in New Zealand.

That late coming together of the players could be seen as a disadvantage, but Foster preferred to look at it through a lens of positivity and played down any possibility of the quartet being jaded ahead of the season’s opener.

“I think playing cricket is really good because you are match-fit and match-ready to come here,” he said.

“It is about the players then getting what they need out of today’s (final) training as opposed to (telling them) ‘You need to do X, Y and Z,’ so, if they want to hit they hit, if they want to bowl (they) bowl (and) if they want to chill they can chill.

“It is getting them to be in the right frame of mind for tomorrow’s game.”

Talking of that game, how important did Foster think it was for his side to get off to a winning start?

“It is always nice to win your first game, but it is always nice to win every game that you play and you always prepare to win, but the reality is that is not always going to happen so we will manage that.

“It is all ifs and buts at the moment (and), for me, the focus is purely about preparing the guys for the first game giving as much role clarity as you possibly can, getting guys in the right frame of mind and just (for them to) be ready to put on the show tomorrow.”

One player the team will be without at the start of the tournament is talismanic leg-spinning Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, a Viper since Season 1, and a player who has driven the team forward in each of the first three campaigns.

But Foster said he was content they had found the ideal replacement in Afghanistan wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad.

“Hasaranga has been phenomenal for us and it is a real shame that he will not be here for the start but that is how it is,” he said.

“We have got a fantastic replacement in Noor, who is young and exciting. Yes, he is a different type of spinner (to Hasaranga and has a) different type of skill-set, but (he is) a wicket-taker just like Hasaranga, so we are absolutely delighted that Noor has joined us.”

Foster said he was also delighted at the first impression he had formed of Bilal Tahir from Kuwait and Faisal Khan from Saudi Arabia, two newcomers to the Vipers this term as part of the DP World ILT20’s connections with cricket in those two countries.

“I have been very impressed,” he said. “We really have two very nice batters and they are also both bowling some spin as well and I think this is a great opportunity for them, a great learning opportunity, bearing in mind they get to rub shoulders with some world-class players. 

“When I speak to them, they seem very excited, they have always got really big smiles on their faces, and they are adding to the group which is great.

“I was talking on Sunday about the learnings that they will hopefully make here which I am very confident that they will in all aspects of the game – not just the technical aspect but also the mental side, the fitness side, the environment side, the way you train.

“Then they can pass that back on when they get back home and then, all of a sudden, it starts organically spreading. This is a great opportunity for the guys, and they have been fitting in really well.”

And what about the prospect of going up against the Capitals again, just 10 months after the heartbreak of losing a final against them in Season 3? Is it all about revenge for that loss?

“It is just the first game of the season, it is really the way I see it,” said Foster.

“They have got a very different looking squad from what they had last season, so a lot has passed since then.

“For us it is about keeping things very simple whether it is Dubai in the first game or any of the other teams.

“It is just about us doing our research, going about our business and then knowing, on the day, we take on a very good team.”

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