ILT20 2025: Desert Vipers Vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi was the venue for a thrilling encounter in which the Desert Vipers, coming from the last few overs, edged the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by seven wickets in the first match of the International League T20 2025. Sunlit afternoon conditions brought out a quality game of cricket from both teams, although it was the Vipers who would walk away with the smile after the final word.
Batting first, the Knight Riders posted 166 for 5 in their yet-to-come-to-overs. Brilliant innings from Phil Salt, his debut comes with an unbeaten 71 from 49 balls, as he built a solid foundation following their early jitters. The night commenced with poor starts, as Kyle Mayers and Joe Clarke fell without contributing much, scoring 2 and 1, followed by Michael Pepper who managed only 11.
Alishan Sharafu contributed a brisk 46 before retiring out, giving a flurry of excitement to the innings. Another fireworks show towards the end was Andre Russell smashing in a wayward 30 from just 14 balls, only to himself being run out in the last over. The Knight Riders’ bowling army of the Vipers, spearheaded by Mohammed Amir, Lockie Ferguson, and Luke Wood, all curtailed the scoring, while Sam Curran became the more expensive operator back by being hit for 48 runs.
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Chasing 167, the Vipers started off great before losing Fakhar Zaman, caught by Salt off Russell for 23. Hales could make only 10 runs as an impact. Nevertheless, Lawrence pitched in with a responsible knock of 70 off 39 balls, including seven boundaries and three sixes, as he took the pressure off the team. An unbeaten 50 off 37 by Sam Curran made sure that the chase was completed without the flurry, with Sherfane Rutherford giving him good company with a quick 9 not out. The Vipers got over the line with 18.4 overs to spare for 3 wickets.
Narine was economical in his bowling for the Knight Riders but could not put a brake on the run flow. The costliest, Ali Khan conceded 49 runs in his 3.4 overs.
This match was a testimony to the strategic play of the Vipers, especially in how they handled their chase, with a match shifting knock by Lawrence ably supported by Curran’s steady finishing. The Knight Riders, whilst there were brilliant knocks from Salt, will regret the missed opportunities in both batting and bowling. A win here would give the Desert Vipers a good start to the tournament and set an interesting contest up as the league advances.
