United Arab Emirates (UAE) opener Rohan Mustafa did some damage at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai during International League T20 (ILT20) clash on February 3. Hard-hitting Desert Vipers’ opener smashed a 73-metre six that shattered a window.
The incident took place in the second over. Dubai Capitals pacer Hazrat Luqman bowled a short of the length to Mustafa. The left-handed batter swivelled across and pulled it over short fine leg for a six. The ball cracked a hole in the glass window. The camera panned towards the broken window as spectators watched it before the play resumed.
Despite T20 speciallists Alex Hales and Colin Munro getting out for single-digit scores, Mustafa did some damage in the powerplay overs. He hit three fours and two sixes in his cameo of 21-ball 31. In the sixth over, Netherlands' Fred Klaassen dismissed him in his second over. The Dutch pacer ended up taking three wickets in the innings.
After three wickets in the powerplay overs, Sam Billings stabilised the innings with the help of Sherfane Rutherford. Billings played the anchor role and scored 54 runs from 48 deliveries including four fours and one six. Rutherford went ballistic in the 16th over as he hit Yusuf Pathan for five consecutive sixes. Rutherford scored 50 runs from just 23 deliveries before getting run out.
In the slog overs, cameos from English duo Tom Curran and Luke Wood helped Vipers post 182/7. In the run chase, Cpitals lost their opener George Munsey for a three-ball duck. Robin Uthappa did the bulk of scoring in the powerplay overs but departed after scoring 30 runs from 21 deliveries. Sikandar Raza carried the run chase till the 13th over when he was dismissed by Sheldon Cottrell.
In the end Rovman Powell's 25-ball 33 went in vain as the required run rate kept on climbing up. Capitals managed to score 160/7 and lost the game by 22 runs. Vipers are currently at the top of points table with seven wins from nine games. Capitals are placed fifth as they have lost five out of nine games whereas one was abandoned due to rain.
