In a nail-biting encounter at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday, the Desert Vipers secured their second consecutive victory in the International League T20 (ILT20) with a dramatic two-wicket triumph over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. The match culminated with just three balls remaining, showcasing exceptional late-order batting under pressure.
The Knight Riders posted a competitive total of 171/6, powered by Alex Hales’ commanding 53 off 37 deliveries, featuring three sixes and four boundaries. Andre Russell contributed a brisk 36, while Qais Ahmad and Noor Ahmad claimed two wickets each for the Vipers.
Facing a challenging chase, the Vipers encountered early setbacks, losing three wickets during the powerplay. The middle-order partnership between Shimron Hetmyer (48 off 25 balls) and Dan Lawrence (35 off 31) revitalized the innings. However, the decisive moment arrived during the final overs when Khuzaima Tanveer’s explosive 31-run cameo from just 12 deliveries sealed the victory despite the team being eight wickets down.
Stand-in captain Sam Curran praised his team’s resilience, stating: ‘This was a fortunate escape but an outstanding result. ADKR possesses a formidable batting lineup, and our bowlers performed exceptionally throughout. The team demonstrated remarkable composure during critical phases.’
Conversely, Knight Riders’ captain Sunil Narine attributed the loss to a below-par batting performance and challenging dew conditions: ‘We were approximately 15-20 runs short. The dew factor significantly hampered our spinners’ effectiveness during the latter stages.’
Shimron Hetmyer received Player of the Match honors for his match-changing innings that ultimately propelled the Desert Vipers to their thrilling victory.