Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz Qualifier 2 Match Report
In a lopsided Qualifier 2 match of the International League T20 2025 held at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the Desert Vipers secured a commanding victory against the Sharjah Warriorz by seven wickets, earning their place in the final. The contest commenced at 6:30 PM local time and showcased skillful bowling, aggressive batting, and several pivotal individual performances.
Batting first, the Sharjah Warriorz posted a competitive total of 162 runs while losing seven wickets within their allocated 20 overs. The innings began on an unfavorable note as Tom Kohler-Cadmore was dismissed for just one run after being caught and bowled by David Payne. Johnson Charles contributed with a quickfire 16 before being taken by Azam Khan off Mohammad Amir’s delivery. Jason Roy emerged as the top performer for the Warriorz, scoring an impressive 73 runs from 56 balls that included six fours and seven sixes. His innings concluded in the penultimate over delivered by Khuzaima Tanveer.
The middle order saw contributions from Tim Seifert, Matthew Wade, and Moeen Ali; however, none were able to convert their starts into substantial scores due to a disciplined bowling attack from the Vipers. Nathan Sowter proved particularly effective with figures of two wickets for 27 runs. Likewise, Khuzaima Tanveer and David Payne each took two wickets as well.
Facing a target of 163 runs, the Desert Vipers encountered early trouble when Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell without scoring on Adam Milne’s first delivery. Nevertheless, Alex Hales and Max Holden steadied their innings with a formidable partnership that shifted momentum away from the Warriorz. Hales played an aggressive knock of 47 runs off just 29 balls featuring nine boundaries while Holden continued his strong performance with48 runs off34 deliveries that included five fours and two sixes.
The turning point came with the wicket of Hales, but by that time, the Vipers were well on their way to the target. Daniel Lawrence and Sam Curran, captain, then stabilized the innings and made certain no further damage would be done. Lawrence remained unbeaten on 28 off 18 balls, and Curran smashed an unbeaten 34 off just 15 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes, sealing the game with more than 3 overs to spare.
The standout for the Warriorz was Adam Milne with 2 wickets, although his economy was a little bit on the higher side at 26 runs off 3.4 overs. Dilshan Madushanka and Moeen Ali contributed one wicket each but failed to stop the Vipers from cruising to victory.
The match confirmed the Vipers’ strength in the depth of their batting order and their bowling rotation, placing them among the serious contenders for the title. They chased down that score with relatively far too much ease-that told of their form and psyche going into the staring final. On the other hand, the Sharjah Warriorz must reflect on what could have been, regarding the batting philosophy and execution in the middle overs.
Also Read: Sairaj Bahutule To Join RR Under Head Coach Rahul Dravid Ahead Of IPL 2025
