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Desert Vipers continued their winning streak in the International League T20 (ILT20) and defeated the MI Emirates by just one run in what was a thrilling encounter. Veteran pacer David Payne proved to be the hero for the Vipers as he racked up a brilliant 4-wicket haul to ensure that the opposition weren't able to chase down the target that they had been handed.
After being invited to bat first, the Vipers were provided with a decent start by the opening duo of Fakhar Zaman and Andries Gous. Though both looked to be in good touch, the latter eventually retired hurt on 21. The innings was then taken forward by Fakhar and Max Holden. They took the side close to the 100-run mark, but the former lost his wicket in the 12th over to Allah Ghazanfar.
Bizarre moment between Pooran and Holden
Following this, a strange moment occurred in the 16th over when Holden, who wasn't really timing the ball well, stepped out of his crease and missed Rashid Khan's delivery. Though wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran had a clear chance to perform the stumping, he surprisingly opted not to do so. This led to the Vipers retiring out Holden before the next over began and he was sent back for 42 runs. The dismissal left the Vipers on 118/2 with only four overs left. Short cameos from Sam Curran (19), Shimron Hetmyer (15) and Dan Lawrence (15) ensured that the team posted a respectable total of 159/4 in 20 overs.
In reply, the MI Emirates had a poor start and lost Jonny Bairstow cheaply for eight runs in the second over. The duo of Muhammad Waseem and Tom Banton tried to form a strong partnership, but failed to do so as the former lost his wicket for 24 runs, restricting the team to 56/2 after 7.1 overs. A 42-run stand between Banton and Pooran would take MI Emirates very close to the 100-run mark, but the West Indian would lose his wicket to Curran for 31 in the 14th over.
Payne's phenomenal spell
David Payne, who had been brought on as an Impact Player by the Vipers, joined the party in the next over and dismissed Banton for 34. Kieron Pollard and Tajinder Singh played key cameos and took the side very close to victory, but Payne and Lockie Ferguson would bring the Vipers backk into the game. Ferguson dismissed Tajinderin the 18th over before Payne racked up the wickets of Pollard, Romario Shepherd and Chris Woakes in the same over. He finished with figures of 4/29 in his four-over spell.
With 16 runs required in the last over, Rashid Khan hit a boundary and six each to make things interesting once again, but with no support from the other end, his 13-run cameo went in vain as the MI Emirates lost by just one run. They just required two runs from the final delivery, but a brilliant run-out from wicketkeeper Vriitya Arvind ensured that they didn't get any run and slumped to defeat.
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