Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals Match Report
An exciting match between Desert Vipers and Dubai Capitals occurred on February 3, 2025, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the International League T20. The match began at 6:30 PM local time, and Dubai Capitals won with 9 wickets remaining with a sparkling batting performance.
Desert Vipers had things going steep from the start while batting first. Azam Khan got out with just 3 runs in the 2nd ball, caught bt Gulbadin off Obed McCoy. After 18 runs from 23 balls by Alex Hales, the middle overs became all about just tumbling wickets after another. Dan Lawrence added 44 from 31 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes, but once Qais Ahmad dismissed him, things started to look grim.
Then there was Sam Curran with 28 runs, but the side seemed to shatter, leaving only Lockie Ferguson to come into the double-digit score sheets – with 9 not out. In just 19.4 overs, the Vipers were bundled out for 137, with Qais Ahmad being the standout bowler in their performance, taking 4 wickets for 25 runs.
The chase from the Dubai Capitals was a display of shot-making for the most part. The tone was initially set by Adam Rossington, who played a brisk knock of 27 runs from 18 balls, with 1 four and 3 sixes before succumbing to David Payne.
But the stage was well and truly set for Shai Hope and Gulbadin Naib. Hope’s imperious knock of an unbeaten 52 runs from 54 balls with 4 fours and a six was a masterclass in steady accumulation; meanwhile, Naib blasted away 55 from just 31 balls, with 3 fours and 4 sixes, sealing a comprehensive victory. The pair shared an unbeaten 96-run partnership for the second wicket, which helped the Dubai Capitals chase down the target of 138 in just 17.1 overs.
The bowling led by David Payne was a little expensive. However, it worked for one wicket, with, Lockie Ferguson, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Sam Curran being unable to apply sufficient pressure on the Capitals batsmen to challenge them with any degree of success.
This match of the Capitals marked their superiority in both the wide areas of bowling and batting, with their strategy and execution on the day being beyond the capabilities and answer of the Vipers. The game itself was less about runs than it was about strategic play-from the off, the Dubai Capitals exploited the batting weaknesses of the Vipers to ensure that they remained calm in their run chase; an outcome that filled the Capitals with some valuable points and a fresh rush of morale moving forward in the tournament.
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