The Desert Vipers secured a place in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 playoffs with a five-wicket win over Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. It was also a historic moment for the Vipers, who became the first team to win six consecutive games in the DP World ILT20.
After the Capitals posted a challenging 166/4, the Vipers rode on Sam Curran’s all-round performance to seal victory. He took two important wickets with the ball, smashing two fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 52 off 33 balls. Max Holden (34 off 22) set the tempo early and Fakhar Zaman (14 off 12) provided brief support before Mustafizur Rahman took his wicket in the top of the fifth over. Despite the breakthrough, Holden kept his cool and allowed the Vipers to reach 50/1 at the end of the powerplay.
Haider Ali then hit a single in the 7th inning to stem the flow of runs, but Hasan Nawaz (31/17) went on the offensive and hit two sixes in the 9th. He looked dangerous, but Waqar Salamkheil struck to end the crisis. Following this wicket, the Vipers needed 79 runs from 60 balls by the end of the 10th over.
Curran and Dan Lawrence (20 off 15) dominated the middle overs to keep the Desert Vipers ahead of the required pace. The duo put together a 32-run partnership off just 24 balls, with Lawrence falling to the bowling of Dasun Shanaka in the 14th over. Shimron Hetmyer (18 off 17) then wasted little time in making his impact, firing Shanaka for a six and hitting a boundary in the 14th over. With Curran anchoring one end and Hetmyer joining the attack, the Vipers stormed to victory with five wickets to spare.
Earlier, the Capitals suffered an early setback when Naseem Shah removed Shayan Jahangir (7 for 7) in three overs, but Leus du Plooy (44 for 54) kept the innings steady at the right time. Gulbadin Naib (21 off 20) started cautiously at the other end before benefiting from Lockie Ferguson’s boundary as the Capitals negotiated a Test powerplay to reach 35/1.
Du Plooy continued to anchor the innings through the middle overs, getting his half-century off Naseem with an opening six, while Naib gradually found his rhythm and pushed boundaries. As the partnership threatened to accelerate, Noor Ahmad broke through with a clever googly to dismiss Naib and apply the break once again.
The turning point came in the 14th over. Curran removed du Plooy in the deep and then dismissed Rovman Powell for a golden duck off the very next ball. These successive wickets delayed the Capitals to 94/4 and shifted the momentum firmly back towards the bowling.
However, Jordan Cox (49 off 30) and Dasun Shanaka (29 off 18) revived the innings with an unbroken stand of 72 off 40 balls. Their late attack, including 30 runs in the last two overs and 14 in the last over, lifted the Capitals to a competitive 166/4.
Player of the match Sam Curran said: “We are in a good space after some strong performances and for me the real satisfaction comes from getting the job done for the team. It has gone a little deeper than we would have liked but I am always focused on reading the situation and seeing the game through to the end. Winning simplifies decision-making but we know we still have to keep improving and carry this momentum to the business end.”
Dubai Capitals skipper Dasun Shanaka said: “With 166 runs, we had a competitive total, especially considering the quality of our bowling. However, our spinners did not reach the distance we were looking for and that made the difference. The Desert Vipers are a very strong team with five real bowling options, so they are difficult to contain. We had the firepower, but the important question is how we build the innings. Looking back, if we had scored just 10-15 more runs, we would have been in a much stronger position.”
The Vipers also used the game to spread a clear message about protecting the environment. Players wore special jerseys with ‘biodiversity stripes’ showing how wildlife around the world has declined over the past 50 years, reminding fans that nature is essential to sport. Made in the UAE from 100% recycled materials, the kit reflects the team’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact, and through simple and engaging eco-friendly activities on the pitch, fans can learn how they can help protect nature in their everyday lives.
Brief Score
Desert Vipers beat Dubai Capitals by 5 wickets.
Dubai Capitals 166/4 in 20 overs (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49 not out, Dasun Shanaka 29 not out, Sam Curran 2 for 17).
Desert Vipers 171/5 in 19.4 overs (Sam Curran 52 not out, Max Holden 34, Hassan Nawaz 31, Dasun Shanaka 2 for 19, Haider Ali 1 for 20).
Player of the match: Sam Curran
