Dubai Capitals enter second successive ILT20 final

Dubai: Dubai Capitals entered the second successive final with a 5-wicket win over Desert Vipers in the Qualifier 1 of the ILT20 Season 3 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Chasing a stiff target of 190, the match went to the wire with Capitals needing 11 off the last over. Needing one off two balls, a set Naib was out off a brilliant catch and Vipers skipper Lockie Ferguson too walked out along with Naib due to injury.

Skipper Sikander Raza scored the winning runs to bring cheers to the Capitals dugout.

Naib scored a fine 62 off just 39 balls that included seven boundaries and a six.

The Capitals didn’t get off to a fyling start on a wicket that didn’t allow the batters the freedom, until Sam Billings’ blitzkreig turned the match on its head. But his untimely run out brought the Vipers back into the contest.

Skipper Billings faced only 16 deliveries to get to his 38 that consisted of five four and two maximums.

There was hardly any difference between the teams when the Capitals were 130 for three after 14 overs while Vipers were 129 for three at the same stage.

Vipers had brought in Rahmanullah Gurbaz for Fakhar Zaman, but the Afghanistan wicketkeeper couldn’t make a significant contributions. But Hales and Max Holden ensured that the Vipers reached the 100-run mark in the ninth over. Vipers, however, couldn’t give themselves a good finish, scoring 89 runs in 11 overs.

Capitals on the other hand took the match away in the last 10 overs, despite missing Australian opener David Warner.

Sharjah Warriorz, who scripted history when they secured their playoff spot for the first time after securing three wins in their last three league matches, will take on MI Emirates in the Eliminator in Abu Dhabi today.