The Desert Vipers had a stellar performance under the lights in Dubai and won the International League T20 Championship in style, beating MI Emirates by 46 runs in a one-sided final. The Desert Vipers took the initiative and led from the front when Player of the Match and Player of the Series winner Sam Curran had a performance of a lifetime.
Vipers Build a Foundation for Perfection
Choosing to bat first, Desert Vipers kicked off their innings with a forceful start despite the loss of a couple of wickets. The Powerplay saw the accumulation of 59 runs, with some help from some loose balls that led to the scoring of nine extras. The losses did not go a tact to the Desert Vipers’ plans, courtesy of the measured start by Holden and Sam Curran.
By the 11th over, the score moved past 100 with Curran starting to dictate terms to the innings. The left-hander mixed some clean stroke-play with smart running as a classy half-century was brought up off 39 balls, embellished by eight boundaries. First supported by Holden and later Dan Lawrence, Curran made sure the momentum never stalled.
The Vipers stormed past 150 in the 17th over, and a strong finish saw them surge to a commanding 182/4 in 20 overs with Curran not out on a brilliant 74, anchoring the innings with real authority.
MI Emirates Fail Under Pressure
In reply, chasing 183, a stiff total, MI Emirates found themselves on the back foot right from the outset. The tight bowling at the middle along with highly disciplined fielding from the Vipers saw three sticks tumble inside the powerplay, therefore restricting the chase to 46/3 after six overs. While Shakib Al Hasan tried to anchor the innings, Kieron Pollard offered brief resistance in the middle overs. The required rate kept spiraling upwards, meanwhile. The Vipers' bowlers struck at vital junctures, breaking partnerships just when MI Emirates looked to rebuild.
Although they reached 100 in the 14th over, the chase never really got into its stride. Once they lost their fifth wicket, it was all over. They were bowled out for 136 in 18.3 overs, which was a long way short.
It’s a Final to Remember for the Vipers
WUTHER
The 46-run victory ended the tournament on a dominating note, which proved the Desert Vipers's consistency in the tournament. Sam Curran's performance in the tournament with his bat and ball made him a deserving winner of the individual awards, while the Desert Vipers won the ILT20 trophy.
Final Score: Desert Vipers 182/4 defeated MI Emirates 136 by 46 runs Player of the Match & Series: Sam Curran (Desert Vipers)