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In a thrilling contest at the Dubai International Stadium, Desert Vipers clinched a dramatic two-wicket victory over MI Emirates in the 14th match of DP World ILT20 season 2. The match, filled with ups and downs, came down to the wire, with Vipers securing the win off the final ball.
MI Emirates, batting first, were limited to 149/9 in their 20 overs. Despite the modest total, MI Emirates mounted a strong defense, reducing the Vipers to 62/5, swinging the match's fate back and forth until the very end.
Sherfane Rutherford's cameo tilts the game in Desert Vipers' corner
The turning point for the Vipers came in the 17th over, with Sherfane Rutherford's aggressive batting, scoring a brisk 35 runs, including a six and two boundaries off Trent Boult. However, Dwayne Bravo managed to dismiss Rutherford with a slower ball, caught by Kusal Perera. The match's climax saw Shaheen Afridi (17 not out) and Luke Wood (6 not out) take on the challenge of scoring 17 runs from the last two overs. Needing ten runs off Boult's final over, they managed to run three on the last ball to clinch the win.
Chasing the target, Vipers' opener Rohan Mustafa kickstarted the innings with 18 runs but was bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi. Muhammad Rohid delivered a double strike in the fifth over, removing Alex Hales and Adam Hose. Farooqi also claimed the wicket of skipper Colin Munro, leaving the Vipers struggling at 28 for 4. Azam Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga then added 34 runs for the fifth wicket before Khan was dismissed by Rohid for 20. At the halfway stage, Vipers still needed 76 runs.
When Hasaranga was caught by Boult off Bravo for 26, MI Emirates tightened their grip on the match. However, Rutherford's 35-run knock changed the game's dynamics before the nail-biting final over unfolded.
Desert Vipers elect to field; Mohammad Amir shines with the ball
Earlier in the match, after winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Vipers made quick inroads into the Emirates' batting lineup. Kusal Perera fell early to Amir, while Muhammad Waseem attacked but was eventually dismissed for 19. Nicholas Pooran and Andre Fletcher tried to stabilize the innings, but quick wickets hampered their progress.
MI Emirates struggled against Vipers' tight bowling attack, spearheaded by Mohammad Amir (3/26), Luke Wood (2/32), and Matheesha Pathirana (2/32). Their total was mainly bolstered by Ambati Rayudu and Akeal Hosein's partnership, contributing 49 runs. Tim David's quickfire 28 runs off 14 balls added some respectability to their score.
Rayudu and Hosein then took over, pushing the score to 107 in 15 overs. However, Pathirana and Hasaranga struck, removing Hosein and Rayudu. Tim David and Bravo's partnership added 37 runs, but Amir's final over spell restrained Emirates from crossing the 150-run mark.
This victory for the Vipers, who had a challenging start to the season, was a significant morale booster, while MI Emirates, despite being the table toppers, faced a setback. The match was a testament to the unpredictable and exhilarating nature of T20 cricket, where fortunes can change in a matter of deliveries.
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