ILT20: Pakistan Star Naseem Shah Rises To Super Over Challenge For Vipers

In a thrilling Super Over finish, Pakistan speedster Naseem Shah rose to the challenge, defending 13 runs against the Gulf Giants as the Desert Vipers earned their third straight win in the fourth season of the ILT20 at Dubai International Stadium on Monday.

The two teams could not be separated after 40 overs of gripping battle as the Vipers, chasing the Giants' 179 for five, ended up with the same score, albeit with the loss of nine wickets.

Then, after the Vipers made 13 in the Super Over, all eyes were fixed on Naseem. The 22-year-old started with a high full-toss, which the umpires declared a no-ball.

But the Pakistan pacer made a strong comeback with his scorching pace, restricting Moeen Ali and Tom Moore's scoring chances as the Giants finished with just nine runs in the Super Over.

It was a fitting end to a great game of T20 cricket, which saw the prolific Pathum Nissanka (56 off 29 balls, 4 fours and 4 sixes) record his third straight half-century of the season for the Giants.

The Sri Lankan was well-supported by Rahmanullah Gurbaz (41 off 31 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes), but the Vipers did manage to fight back with the ball after the Giants' openers put on 73 runs in just seven overs.

In reply, the Vipers kept losing wickets, but Dan Lawrence (56 off 31 balls) and captain Sam Curran (44 off 36 balls) kept the team in the hunt.

Afghan medium-pacer Azmatullah Omarzai (4-0-34-4) came up with an outstanding performance to drag the Giants back into the contest.

But in a nerve-racking final over with the Vipers still in the battle at 167 for seven, needing 13 off 6 balls, Omarzai could not get the magic ball to clinch the deal as the match went into the Super Over.

Then Naseem's class and control proved decisive, keeping Vipers on top of the table with six points from three matches, two points ahead of second-placed Giants.

Brief Scores

Desert Vipers beat Gulf Giants in the Super Over

Gulf Giants 179/5 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 56, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 41, Khuzaima Tanveer 2 for 23, Noor Ahmad 2 for 47)

Desert Vipers 179/9 in 20 overs (Dan Lawrence 56, Sam Curran 44, Azmatullah Omarzai 4 for 32, Nuwan Thushara 2 off 33)

Super Over

Desert Vipers 13/1 in 1 over (Dan Lawrence 10, Shimron Hetmyer 3*, Nuwan Thushara 1 for 13)

Gulf Giants 9/0 in 1 over (Moeen Ali 5*, Tom Moores 1*, Naseem Shah 0 for 9)

Player of the match: Dan Lawrence

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