Desert Vipers cruise past Dubai Capitals by four wickets in ILT20 opener

Dubai: It was redemption for the Desert Vipers, who defeated defending champions Dubai Capitals by four wickets in the opening fixture of DP World ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Stadium. The Vipers brought an end to a six-match losing streak against the Capitals in a rematch of last season’s final. The triumph was powered by a half-century from Andries Gous and a comprehensive performance with the ball. The result also marked the Vipers’ 21st victory across all seasons of the competition — the most by any team.

After electing to bowl first, Noor Ahmad (2/25), David Payne (2/26), and Khuzaima Tanveer (2/35) each registered two-wicket hauls to hold the Capitals at 150/8.

In the run chase, Desert Vipers were comfortably ahead of the equation with openers Fakhar Zaman (26 off 15) and Andries Gous (58 off 36) putting on a quickfire 50-run stand. Zaman smashed two sixes and a four before he was dismissed by Mohammad Nabi in the fifth over — the first time Zaman has fallen to a spinner in the DP World ILT20. Gous was equally aggressive, carving three fours off Scott Currie as the Vipers finished the powerplay at 64/1.

Max Holden joined Gous as the duo put on a 35-run alliance in the span of 30 deliveries. The Vipers were cruising when Gulbadin Naib scalped Holden in the 10th over to leave the score at 85/2.

Gous eventually brought up his half-century in 32 balls, studded with six fours and two sixes, before he was dismissed by Waqar Salamkheil. Salamkheil followed up with the wicket of Sam Curran (7 off 10) to emerge as the pick of the Capitals attack.

Scot Currie chipped in with crucial late wickets, removing Shimron Hetmyer (7 off 6) and Hassan Nawaz (3 off 7), but the damage was done. Dan Lawrence (19* off 16) and Khuzaima Tanveer (12* off 8) took the Vipers home in 19 overs.

Batting first, Dubai Capitals faced early pressure as the Vipers’ pacers made immediate inroads. Sediqullah Atal (16 off 13) fell to Naseem Shah, Gulbadin Naib (0 off 1) was undone by a stellar return catch from Sam Curran, and Jordan Cox (2 off 7) became Dan Lawrence’s first scalp, leaving the Capitals struggling at 32/3.

Opener Shayan Jahangir (19 off 12) and David Willey (10 off 22) made small contributions. Jahangir took Khuzaima Tanveer for two boundaries he was sent back in the same over. Rovman Powell (39 off 22) and Wiley had put on 25 runs in 26 balls, before Willey was castled by Noor Ahmad in the 12th over.

Powell’s cautious start quickly changed to a counterattack as he joined Gulbadin Naib for a 34-run stand in only 22 balls. The West Indian did the heavy lifting as he took down Khuzaima Tanveer for 18 runs before falling to the UAE pacer, in the 15th over with the score at 101/5.

Mohammad Nabi (29 off 23) struck two fours and two sixes, combining with skipper Dasun Shanaka (12 off 11) for 30 runs in 20 balls. Though both batters fell in the final two overs to Noor Ahmad and David Payne respectively, the Capitals clawed their way to a competitive total of 150/8.

Player of the Match, Andries Gous said: “It was a bit slow up front, but it started to get better when we were batting. I’ve come in with confidence, so it is something I want to keep going. It’s good to get that first fifty behind as we go into the rest of the tournament, they are some very good teams.”

Reflecting on the loss, Dasun Shanaka, captain of the Dubai Capitals, said: “I think with the ball and the bat we were not up to the mark today. We need to hold our line and length; 150-160 is the par score here. Hopefully we can come up with better plans next time.”