The Desert Vipers' undefeated streak in the 2025 International League T20 (ILT20) season was finally broken on Monday when the Dubai Capitals pulled off a sensational six-wicket win at the Dubai International Stadium.
A brilliant bowling display led by Dushmantha Chameera and Zahir Khan, both taking three wickets, kept the Vipers to a modest total of 139. Gulbadin Naib played a match-winning knock, scoring 78 off 51 balls to help the Capitals snap a three-match losing streak.
The Vipers, who were batting first, got off to a solid start with 48/1 at the end of the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman looked aggressive, hitting a six and a four before being bowled by Chameera. Dan Lawrence came in at number three and continued the positive approach, while Alex Hales played a more stable role. However, the Capitals seized control in the middle overs. A 58-run partnership between Hales and Lawrence was quickly undone, with Hales falling for 34, Lawrence dismissed for 24, and Sam Curran stumped for just three runs. By the 11.3-over mark, the Vipers were reeling at 80/4. Despite a few brief resistance efforts from Azam Khan (10) and Wanindu Hasaranga (13), both of whom fell to Zahir Khan, the Vipers were eventually bowled out for 139 in 20 overs. Sherfane Rutherford added some spark with three sixes in his 27 off 24 balls, but Chameera struck again in the penultimate over to dismiss him.
In response, the Capitals were in trouble early, losing two wickets quickly to Lockie Ferguson's fiery spell, leaving them at 17/2. A mix-up saw Shai Hope run out for just eight, but Naib, who had earlier been dropped on two, took charge. He slammed three sixes off Nathan Sowter, and alongside Sikandar Raza, who played a more cautious role, Naib raced to a rapid 31-ball half-century. The pair added 50 runs for the fourth wicket in just 36 balls, and by the 14-over mark, the Capitals were well in control, needing only 32 more runs from 36 balls.
Raza was dismissed for 24 off 26 balls, but Naib continued to power on, launching two more sixes and guiding the Capitals to victory in just 17.4 overs.