
Dubai Capitals team from ILT20 Source: Dubai Capitals/Twitter)
The Dubai Capitals were unstoppable on Monday evening as they outshone the Desert Vipers with the ball and bat to cruise to a massive nine-wicket win in the final group game of the DP World ILT20 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Qais Ahmad was incredible for the Capitals as he finished with a stunning spell of 4 for 25, while Gulbadin Naib lived up to his billing as one of the best allrounders by striking a brilliant unbeaten 55. The win caps an impressive turnaround for the Capitals, who began their campaign with just one win in four games but then regrouped to win four of their last five matches to finish second on the points table.
The Dubai Capitals will now take on the same opponents, the Desert Vipers, in Qualifier 1 on February 5, while MI Emirates will face Sharjah Warriorz in the Eliminator on February 6 with the winner facing the loser of Qualifier 1 for a place in the final on February 7.
Earlier, the Dubai Capitals put up a scintillating bowling display to bowl out the Desert Vipers for 137. Obed McCoy was on the money as he struck off his first ball when Azam Khan edged it to Naib in the slips. Alex Hales threatened to get going but McCoy outfoxed him with a slower one and the Vipers were down to 39/2 in five overs.
Curran joined Dan Lawrence, and the two of them offered their side some much-needed solidity with a crucial 45-run partnership. They found boundaries at will and upped the run rate as the Vipers clawed their way back into the game after losing two early wickets. One of the standout moments came in the eighth over when Curran launched a monstrous six off Naib that sailed over the stands and into the Sharjah streets.
Brief scores
Dubai Capitals beat Desert Vipers by nine wickets
Desert Vipers 137/10 in 19.4 overs (Dan Lawrence 44, Sam Curran 28, Alex Hales 18, Qais Ahmad 4 for 25, Obed McCoy 3 for 22)
Dubai Capitals 138/1 in 17.1 overs (Gulbadin Naib 55 not out, Shai Hope 52 not out, Adam Rossington 27, David Payne 1 for 29)
Player of the Match: Qais Ahmed
Cricket fans can watch this action-packed tournament on ZEE’s most widely distributed and viewed 15 linear TV channels: &Pictures SD, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema 2, Zee Action, Zee Biskope, Zee Zest SD, Zee Cinemalu HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Thirai, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Kannada HD, Zee Zest HD, &Flix SD and &Flix HD. It’s also free to view on one of India’s leading OTT platform – ZEE5.