Desert Vipers defeated Gulf Giants by six wickets in a low scoring encounter for the second time in succession to win the ILT20 in Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.
An unrepaired knock of 42 from all-rounder Sam Curran orchestrated a straightforward run chase for the Desert Vipers. He was supported by Sherfane Rutherford who added 40 runs in 18 balls to retire the Vipers in 17.4 overs.
It was the Vipers’ pacers who took control of the first innings with captain Lockie Ferguson and Mohammad Amir taking three and two wickets respectively off the Giants top and middle order. James Vince commanded the middle, where he had only one match to bat and scored an unbeaten 76 runs from 62 balls as the Giants reached 119/9 from 20 overs.
The Desert Vipers’ got thwarted in the second over of their chase as Mark Adair dismissed Fakhar Zaman and Dan Lawrence. The Vipers got crushed by the Englishmen Alex Hales and Sam Curran on the powerplay, handily placed 22/2.
Hales was the more guarded one, but Curran unburdened the chain in the seventh over with a six over extra cover and a four off Daniel Worall. Curran and Hales got things under control, going for 49 runs together, but then Blessing Muzarabani got the all-important hit of Alex Hales. Hales smacked 20 runs off 30 balls.
Azam Khan snuck Tymal Mills’ shorter one, and departed for seven runs and 66/4 in 12.2 overs. Whenever the tension was rising; Curran set a limit to make the board tick.
Sherfane Rutherford also joined the chase as the Vipers motored to the goal. They scored 55 off 32 balls as Rutherford knocked two sixes and a four in the 18th over to smash 120 in 17.4 overs. Curran was still unbeaten on 42 from 43 deliveries including four fours and a six.
The Gulf Giants had lost the first wickets earlier in the night when Amir dropped Adam Lyth, LBW, in the first over. Ferguson scalped Rehan Khan soon after, and Curran fumbled Jordan Cox to bowl the Giants into hot water at 32/3 in six overs.
Opening pitcher James Vince pitched a measured innings, offering little opportunity and rotating the ball around a lot. But he found no support with wickets flying all around him.
Wanindu Hasaranga got Ollie Robinson out for a duck in the sixth over, and Ferguson hit back to nab the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer and Mark Adair for one-twoes.
Vince was supported briefly at 50/6 by UAE’s Aayan Afzal Khan who had made 15 off 18 and put on Hasaranga’s six for the 36th time.
But Khan’s omission in the 15th over from Luke Wood hit the Giants further on the footing. Amir then took out Saghir Khan with a slow trick and Vince fought an isolated battle.
Then, in the 18th over, James Vince bowled Luke Wood for 15 runs and a 47-ball 50-year-old too.
Vince took strike for the last two overs and popped in a couple more boundaries to get the Giants on 119/9 after 20 overs.
Brief scores
Desert Vipers beat Gulf Giants by six wickets
Gulf Giants 119/9 in 20 overs (James Vince 76, Aayan Afzal Khan 15, Lockie Ferguson 3 for 22, Mohammad Amir 2 for 23)
Desert Vipers 121/4 in 20 overs (Sam Curran 42 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 40 not out, Mark Adair 2 for 12, Tymal Mills 1 for 23