Gulf Giants skipper James Vince's unbeaten 62-ball 76 on a tough Dubai track went in vain as they managed to post 119/9 on the board and lost to Desert Vipers by six wickets. After Vipers' skipper Lockie Ferguson's three-fer and Mohammad Amir's splendid spell, Sam Curran played a patient knock whereas Sherfane Rutherford went berserk with 18-ball 40 to take his side home with 14 balls to spare.
Giants lose wickets in clusters
Ferguson who was picked by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for his base price in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction, won the toss and opted to bowl first. Amir struck with his third ball getting Adam Lyth out lbw. In the fourth over, Vince scored the first boundary of the innings. Ferguson dismissed Rehan Ahmed in the fifth over. Sam Curran was introduced into the attack and he got the wicket of Jordan Cox. Giants were 32 for 3 after powerplay overs. Wanindu Hasaranga struck in his first over as well knocking over Oliver Robinson for a four-ball duck. Ferguson struck twice in the 10th over to get rid of Mark Shimron Hetmyer and Mark Adair. At the halfway stage, Giants were 50/6.
Vince plays gritty knock
Aayan hit a six of Hasaranga in the 13th over as Giants looked to accelerate. In the 15th over, Luke Wood broke the partnership with Aayan's wicket. He scored 15 runs from 18 balls, the only other batter apart from Vince to score in double digits. Giants' problems continued as Amir dismissed Saghir Khan. In the 18th over, Vince reached his fifty from 47 balls. In the last three overs, Vince hit a couple of sixes and boundaries. On the final ball, Tymal Mills was run out trying to take a second run. Vince's 62-ball 76 took Giants to 119/9.
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Horrendous start to run chase
In the run chase, Vipers lost two early wickets. Adair got the wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Dan Lawrence. After the double wicket-maiden, Vipers were 22/2 in powerplay overs as Adair bowled another maiden over. He would have got another wicket had it not been for Alex Hales' wicket. At the halfway stage, Vipers were 49/2 as Hales struggled to score. Blessing Muzarabani ended Hales' stay at the crease. He scored 20 runs from 30 balls. Then Tymal Mills dismissed Azam Khan.Â
Curran holds one end, Rutherford finishes off run chase
In the 14th over, Rutherford hit a six as his catch was dropped on the fine leg boundary. Curran rotated the strike and had a reprieve in the 16th over. In the 18th over, Rutherford finished the run chase with a four and two sixes. Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) new recruit scored 40 runs from just 18 balls. Curran remained unbeaten for 42 off 43 balls featuring four fours and a six.