Naseem comes to Pakistan s rescue in super over thriller Dubai: Speedster Naseem Shah starred with the ball and defended 13 runs with a Super Over masterclass as Desert Vipers completed their third straight win of season four of the ILT20, at Dubai International Stadium on Monday.
After 40 overs of a gripping tussle between two sides who were inseparable at the end, the Vipers had matched the Giants’ 179 for five in chasing down their score but closed level, albeit nine wickets down.
Then, with the Vipers scoring 13 in the Super Over, all eyes — once more — were on Naseem. The 22-year-old began with a high full-toss that the umpires called a no-ball.
However, the Pakistan pacer returned strongly with his lethal pace to limit Moeen Ali and Tom Moore to only nine runs in the Super Over as Giants set a paltry target of 10 for Qalandars.
It was an appropriate conclusion to a fine T20 contest, where prolific giant Pathum Nissanka (56 off 29 balls, 4 fours and 4 sixes) notched up his third half-century of the season for the Giants.
The Sri Lankan received good support from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (41 off 31 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes), but the Vipers were able to launch a fightback with the ball after the Giants’ openers added 73 in only seven overs.
In response, the Vipers were losing wickets but Dan Lawrence (56 off 31 balls) and captain Sam Curran (44 off 36 balls) kept them in contention.
Afghan medium-pacer Azmatullah Omarzai (4-0-34-4) put up a stellar show to bring the Giants back in the game.
But in an agonizing final over, with the Vipers still alive on 167 for seven and requiring 13 off six balls, Omarzai couldn’t find the magic ball to seal it as the match catapulted into the Super Over.
It was then that Naseem’s class and control came good, keeping Vipers at the top of the table with six points from three matches, two ahead of second-placed Giants.
Brief Scores
Desert Vipers beat Gulf Giants in the Super Over
Gulf Giants 179/5 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 56, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 41, Khuzaima Tanveer 2 for 23, Noor Ahmad 2 for 47)
Desert Vipers 179/9 in 20 overs (Dan Lawrence 56, Sam Curran 44, Azmatullah Omarzai 4 for 32, Nuwan Thushara 2 off 33)
Super Over
Desert Vipers 13/1 in 1 over (Dan Lawrence 10, Shimron Hetmyer 3*, Nuwan Thushara 1 for 13)
Gulf Giants 9/0 in 1 over (Moeen Ali 5*, Tom Moores 1*, Naseem Shah 0 for 9)
Player of the match: Dan Lawrence