Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates: In a memorable last match of the tournament at Dubai, the Desert Vipers have now changed their title jinx by becoming champions of the ILT20.
This was the first time that the Vipers could lift the trophy after falling short in the previous two finals, it was the third time lucky for them to win by beating MI Emirates by 46 runs with a complete all-round performance in the final game when it was most needed.
Sam Curran Headlines Historic Desert Vipers Win
The captain of Desert Vipers, Sam Curran, was the pivot of their win. Batting under immense pressure, Curran whacked an unbeaten 74 off 51 balls, anchoring the Vipers to a formidable 182 for 4 in their 20 overs.
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Max Holden – 41 off 32 balls
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Dan Lawrence – 23 off 15 balls Put together, they ensured that the Vipers finished strong and set up a challenging target for MI Emirates in the final between Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates.
Early Drama Despite Farooqi’s Double Strike
The Vipers got off to an aggressive start with Fakhar Zaman striking hard, with errors in their fielding allowing the score to tick. They were momentarily pulled back by an excellent double-wicket over from Fazalhaq Farooqi, who has got rid of Jason Roy and Fakhar Zaman.
However, Curran made a statement by scoring back-to-back boundaries to end the power play, as Desert Vipers moved to 59/2 after the first six overs.
Vipers Build Strong Platform Around Curran
Curran changed strike smartly as Holden started to find his groove. They added a vital 89 runs, taking the Vipers past the 100-run mark in the 12th over.
Even as mystery spinner Arab Gul smashed the stand, Dan Lawrence ensured the momentum was maintained with the Vipers. A highlight-reel 21-run 18th over and 46 runs in the last four overs helped the Desert Vipers breach the 180-run barrier, which played an important role in the match between the Desert Vipers and MI Emirates.
MI Emirates Struggle in the Chase
MI Emirates never quite recovered in their chase of 183. Muhammad Waseem started off brightly, but wickets kept falling and no major partnership was really able to build.
The Vipers’ bowling attack was relentless:
Naseem Shah – 3 for 18, utilized speed and movement.
Usman Tariq – 2 for 20, choking runs in the middle overs
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David Payne – 3 for 42, including three wickets in a single over
They eventually managed to get bowled out for 136 in 18.3 overs.
Middle-Order Resistance Falls Flat
Veterans Shakib Al Hasan and Kieron Pollard then tried to revive the chase with a decent partnership, but disciplined bowling and an increasing required run rate proved to be too much.
Once Shakib and Pollard were dismissed, MI Emirates collapsed in a heap to lose their final six wickets for just 22 runs, folding the result emphatically in the Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates final.
A Landmark Moment for Desert Vipers
This win makes Desert Vipers the fourth ILT20 winners in four seasons, following Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, and Dubai Capitals. Their consistency in the tournament, as well as their performances in the final, made them deserving winners, with Sam Curran leading by example in a display which will be remembered as one of the best in the history of ILT20.
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