Caribbean duo Rovman Powell and Jason Holder overpowered Pakistan speedster Shaheen Afridi to turn the game on his head. David Warner’s problems with the bat continued but Dubai Capitals won the match against Desert Vipers on the last ball with four wickets in hand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Earlier, Warner won the toss and opted to field first. Dushmantha Chameera conceded just a single in his first over. Jason Holder started well and conceded just three runs in his first over. A change in bowling did not help the Capitals as Scott Kuggeleiijn was hit for two sixes by Rohan Mustafa and one by Alex Hales. Holder was expensive in his second over. Hales hit Holder for a four and a six. Mustafa took on Akif Raja and hit him for a four and a six. In the final over of the powerplay overs, Mustafa and Hales hit Chameera for one boundary each.
In the ninth over, Mustafa reached his half-century from 32 balls. On the next ball, he lost his wicket to Raja. His 33-ball 50 included four fours and three sixes. After a few quiet overs, Hales smashed Sikandar Raza for a couple of sixes. In the 14th over, Hales missed his half-century. He lost his wicket to Holder after scoring 49 runs from 32 balls including a couple of fours and four sixes. While skipper Colin Munro struggled to find boundaries, Azam Khan departed for a duck. Munro fell to Raza after scoring 16 runs from 22 balls. Sherfane Rutherford got out for a duck as well. In the slog overs, Adam Hose's unbeaten 17-ball 35 helped Desert Vipers post 169/6. Wanindu Hasarang contributed with a seven-ball 12.
In the run chase, Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for a single-digit score to Afridi in the first over. Ben Dunk came out to bat all guns blazing. He did not spare Afridi either. However, Warner's poor run continued. Afridi ended his troubled stay at the crease. After the powerplay overs, Dubai Capitals were 56/2. In his first over, Hasaranga took Sam Billings' catch off his own bowling. Dunk continued to hit big and reached his half-century from 23 balls in the next over. In the 10th over, Mustafa got the wicket of Dunk. The Australian batter scored 59 runs from 30 balls including seven fours and a couple of sixes.
Powell took on Afridi in the 13th over hitting him for a four and a six. Mohammad Amir returned to the attack. He conceded two boundaries off Raza's bat before taking his wicket. The Zimbabwean all-rounder scored 22 runs from 19 balls. Hasaranga in his final over dismissed Rahul Chopra. Holder finished his spell with a six. After two boundary-less overs, Afridi took a beating in the penultimate over. Powell started the over with a boundary. Holder hit two fours too as Afridi conceded 15 runs. Dubai Capitals needed four runs off the last over. Matheesha Pathirana kept the game alive till the last ball but Holder and Powell managed to sneak a single to lead them to a four-wicket win. Powell scored 40 runs from 32 balls whereas Holder contributed with a 12-ball 23.
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