Islamabad, Jan 30: The Desert Vipers surged to the top of the ILT20 points table after a dominant five-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants at Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday.
The win not only secured their position as league leaders but also guaranteed them a top two finish in the league stage of the competition.
The Gulf Giants posted a modest total of 129 for 8, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Sam Curran both delivering outstanding performances with the ball. Hasaranga took 3 wickets for just 10 runs, while Curran’s 3 wickets for 28 runs helped stifle the Giants’ batting line-up.
Tom Curran shaped the Giants’ innings with a quickfire 64 off just 34 balls.
His late surge was the only bright spot, pushing his team past the 120-run mark.
Chasing a target of 130, the Vipers faced early hurdles during the Powerplay. The opening batsmen, Alex Hales (9) and Fakhar Zaman (14), were dismissed early, leaving the Vipers at 42 for 2 in the first six overs. However, Max Holden anchored the chase with a composed knock of 70 runs from 54 balls.
Read More:
Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER): A Complete Guide for Families and Students
His partnership with Sam Curran (16 off 19 balls) steadied the ship. Although Curran fell to a brilliant catch by James Vince, Holden continued to find the boundary with ease, reaching his half-century off 42 balls.
Holden’s unbroken 32-run partnership with Adam Hose (12*) in the final overs sealed the victory for the Vipers with an over to spare. The disciplined bowling from Hasaranga and Curran, combined with Holden’s resilience with the bat, ensured the Vipers’ smooth journey to the top spot.
Earlier, the Gulf Giants struggled to build partnerships, and despite a brief flourish from Tom Curran, their innings never gained momentum. Hasaranga’s early breakthroughs and the relentless pressure from the Vipers’ bowlers kept the Giants on the backfoot, leaving them unable to recover.
This commanding performance has further solidified the Desert Vipers as one of the strongest teams in the competition, heading into the business end of the season. With the playoffs in sight, they will look to maintain their dominant form.
