Desert Vipers were near-perfect in the ILT20 2025 final but could not go on to win their maiden ILT20 title. Azam Khan's mistakes behind the stumps haunted Vipers as Dubai Capitals won by four wickets with four balls to spare. Rovman Powell's half-century and cameos from Dasun Shanaka and Sikandar Raza helped Capitals get over the line against a clumsy Vipers side.
Lack of support for Holden
Earlier, Capitals captain Sam Billings won the toss and opted to bowl first. Obed McCoy struck with the first ball he bowled. Alex Hales departed for a single-digit score. Max Holden made full use of the powerplay overs as he found boundaries but Rahmanullah Gurbaz struggled. McCoy his his second over dismissed Gurbaz. After six overs, Vipers were 53/2. Spinners were introduced into the attack and no boundaries were scored for two overs. Holden got to his fifty from 32 balls. On the next ball, his catch was dropped by Powell. Dan Lawrence was unimpressive and fell to Ali in the 10th over. Vipers were 76/3 at the halfway stage.
Curran, Azam accelerate in slog overs
Holden and Curran tried to do damage control. Raza in his last over got rid of Holden. The opener scored 76 runs from 51 deliveries including 12 fours. Azam walked out to bat and got off the mark with a boundarys traight away. He hit Raza for a six as well. In the 18th over, Curran hit McCoy for three fours. In the penultimate over, he attacked Scott Kuggeleijn. He reached his fifty from 28 balls. Meanwhile, Azam got a lifeline as his catch was dropped on 20. Curran started the final over with a six and denied Azam a single. Azam hit a boundary off penultimate delivery before getting run out to sneak an extra run on final delivery. He contributed with a 13-ball 27.
Slow start to run chase
Early into the run chase, veteran opener David Warner was knocked over by David Payne. Then Mohammad Amir trapped Gulbadin Naib in front of the stumps with an inswinging yorker. On the next ball, Billings would've departed as well but Vipers didn't review. Billings could not do much damage and fell to Amir in his next over after scoring just six runs from 10 balls. Capitals were 39/3 after powerplay overs. Shai Hope continued to play the anchor role. Powell would have been dismissed for a single-digit score had Azam not got his gloves in front of stumps. What could've been a wicket, turned out to be a no ball. Powell rubbed salts on wounds with a six. He took on Curran as well and scored two fours and a six in the ninth over. Hope looked to accelerate as well and hit Soweter for a six in the 10th over.
Powell, Raza make Capitals champions!
The partnership was broken by Curran in the 14th over. The opener scored 43 runs from 39 balls. In the next over, Shanaka's catch was dropped by Gurbaz. Powell reached his fifty from 31 balls in the 15th over. In the last five overs, Capitals needed 65 runs. Shanaka and Powell hit a six each off Curran's last over. Shanaka hit Payne for a six as well before getting dismissed by a slower ball. The Sri Lankan contributed with a 10-ball 21. In the 18th over, Sowter got the prized wicket of Powell. He scored 63 runs from 38 balls. In the last two overs, Capitals needed 24 runs. Raza hit three fours off Amir. The left-arm pacer was livid with Azam as he failed to take a catch while diving to his right. In the final over, Raza hit a six and a four off Khuzaima Tanveer to take Capitals home. He remained unbeaten for 34 off 12 balls.