Desert Vipers led by Sam Curran won the first ever super over in ILT20 history. Dan Lawrence starred with a half-century in run chase but Gulf Giants' Azmatullah Omarzai forced a super over. In the super over, Giants skipper Moeen Ali walked out to bat and faced most of deliveries. Despite a few freebies from Naseem Shah, he could not help Giants chase down the target of 13 as Vipers won a thrilling encounter at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on December 8.
Giants waste excellent start
Vipers skipper Curran won the toss and opted to bowl first. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Rahmanullah Gurbaz shared a 73-run partnership, using the powerplay overs well. Noor Ahmad got the breakthrough in the seventh over. Nissanka hit four sixes and as many fours in his 29-ball 56. Gurbaz and James Vince struggled to accelerate in the middle overs. Khuzaima Tanveer dismissed Gurbaz (31-ball 40) and Vince (22-ball 25) in the 14th over. Omarzai contributed with a 13-ball 20 cameo before getting dismissed by Ahmad. Ali could manage a run-a-ball 11 before falling to David Payne. Tom Moores and Gerhard Erasmus helped Giants post 179/5.
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Poor start to run chase
Vipers' openers disappointed in the run chase. Fakhar Zaman faced nine deliveries to score just one run. His misery was ended by Omarzai. In the fourth over, Mark Adair got the better of Andries Gous. Curran pushed the scoring rate. Meanwhile, Max Holden fell for a run-a-ball 15. At the halfway stage, Vipers were 65/3.
Lawrence revives run chase but Omarzai forces super over
Omarzai dropped Lawrence's catch in the 12th over off Nuwan Thusara's bowling. Lawrence made Giants pay for their mistake. In the 16th over, Thushara broke the partnership with Curran's wicket. He scored 44 runs from 36 deliveries, including three sixes. Shimron Hetmyer contributed with an eight-ball 16 cameo. In the same over, Lawrence reached his fifty from 28 balls. Omarzai struck again to end Lawrence's stay at the crease. The Englishman scored 56 runs from 31 balls. In the last two overs 31 runs were needed. Hasan Nawaz hit Thushara for a six and a four before getting out. Five wides did not help Giants' cause. In the final over, Vipers needed 13 runs. Khuzaima Tanveer started with a six and got out next ball. Omarzai came back well, forcing a super over as Vipers finished at 179/9. The Afghan all-rounder claimed four wickets for 32 runs.
The Super Over drama
Lawrence and Hetmyer walked out in the super over against Thushara. Lawrence hit a six off penultimate ball. He got out on the last delivery.
Interestingly, Ali and Moores walked out to bat in the super over run chase against Shah. The Pakistan pacer started with a no ball but Ali missed the free hit delivery. With 10 runs needed off four balls, Naseem bowled a wide and Ali got back on strike. Ali and Moores failed to hit a boundary and managed just nine runs as Vipers won the super over. In hindsight, sending Nissanka and Omarzai would've been a better option.