Desert Vipers were without the services of their captain and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson in ILT20 2025 Qualifier 2. Other bowlers stepped up and restricted Sharjah Warriorz to 162/7 despite Jason Roy's 73-run knock. In the run chase, Alex Hales and Max Holden missed out on their respective half-centuries but skipper Sam Curran and Daniel Lawrence ensured Vipers got over the line with 20 balls to spare.
Roy's sluggish knock takes Warriorz to respectable score
Earlier, Curran won the toss and opted to bowl first. David Payne struck with the first ball he bowled to dismiss Tom Kohler-Cadmore. In his second over, Mohammad Amir won the battle against Johnson Charles who scored 16 runs from 10 balls. Warriorz were 45/2 after powerplay overs. In the ninth over, Aussie leg-spinner Nathan Sowter dismissed Tim Seifert. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 15 runs from 16 balls. Sowter in his third over dismissed Matthew Wade caught and bowled for a single-digit score.
In the 14th over, Roy reached his fifty from 39 balls. In the slog overs, Moeen Ali could not get going and became Payne's second victim of the evening. Roy could not score freely despite playing himself in. Karim Janat attacked pacers and hit three sixes before falling in the final over to Khuzaima Tanveer. Roy departed as well. He scored 73 runs from 56 balls. Ethan DSouza finished the innings with a boundary taking Warriorz' score to 162/7.
Easy run chase for Vipers
Vipers lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early in the run chase. He was knocked over by Adam Miline in the first over. Alex Hales took on Dilshan Madushanka in the fourth over hitting him for four fours. Max Holden and Hales used powerplay overs well. Vipers were 54/1 after six overs. Hales welcomed Janat with three consecutive fours. The partnership was broken by Madushanka in the ninth over. The English opener fell for a 29-ball 47.
The wicket did not have an impact on the run rate as Holder and Lawrence found boundaries. Milne came back into the attack and knocked over Holden who scored 48 runs from 34 balls. Curran and Lawrence did not let Warrioz make a comeback. In the 17th over, Curran finished the run chase with a boundary. Vipers won by seven wickets with 20 balls to spare. Curran contributed with an unbeaten 15-ball 34. On the other end, Lawarence scored 28 runs from 18 balls.
Curran lauds team for performing despite setbacks
"We had a few chances and few injuries, we had to rest and rotate. Really glad to be in the final and be back in Dubai. Sharjah have dangerous top six, and we knew we had to get early wickets. Credit to Amir, he's been getting us early wickets almost every game. Jason played really well in the end but the dew factor came in. And then Hales played very well, and then Dan and myself finished things off. He is an experienced player and that's just the way he plays. Always crucial in a big game for a player like him to step in," Curran said in the post-match presentation.
Vipers will now take on Dubai Capitals in the final on February 9.