ILT20: Desert Vipers Beat MI Emirates By One Run In Last-Ball Thriller

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

The Desert Vipers were the victors in yet another thrilling clash, beating MI Emirates by one run at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. The win, which went down to the last ball, was the Vipers' fourth-straight triumph of the DP World ILT20 Season 4. The Vipers consolidated their position as the table-toppers with eight points to their name.

Defending 159, the Vipers initially struggled to take wickets. The game turned in the 19th over, when David Payne - who finished with 4 for 29 - claimed three crucial scalps. UAE's Khuzaima Tanveer was also impressive with 2 for 34, as the Vipers showed their composure once again.

In the second innings, MI Emirates lost an early wicket when Tanveer dismissed Jonny Bairstow (8 off 7) in the second over. It was Muhammad Waseem (24 0ff 21) and Tom Banton (34 off 29) who steered the MI Emirates through the powerplay with the score at 49/1.

They shared a 42-run partnership in 31 balls before Tanveer struck again in his second spell of the night to remove Waseem. Banton looked in complete control when Nicholas Pooran (31 off 29) joined him in the middle. The duo looked settled, completing another 42-run partnership, this time in 40 balls. However, Sam Curran sent Pooran back in the 14th over with 62 needed off 36 balls.

Banton followed in the next over as Payne bagged his first wicket of the night, bringing the score to 105/4. Tajinder Singh (17 off 7) hit Sam Curran for a couple of sixes that brought MI Emirates ahead of the equation with a 20-run over. Lockie Ferguson then ended Tajinder's stay at the crease with his first wicket of the match in the 18th over.

Another twist in the penultimate over saw Payne turn the match on its head. First, he got Romario Shepherd (1 off 4), followed by the wicket of skipper Kieron Pollard (23 off 13), who looked in good nick. Chris Woakes (0 off 2) followed in the final ball, meaning that MI Emirates needed 16 runs in six balls to secure the victory.

Rashid Khan (13 not out off 8) could have been the match-winner, hitting a six and a four in the final over, but the MI Emirates couldn't find the two runs needed on the last ball.

Batting first, the Vipers started on a promising note, led by Fakhar Zaman (35 off 31). By the end of the powerplay, the Vipers were 51/0, threatening to make their way to a big score.

After Andries Gous (21 off 15) retired-hurt, Zaman combined with Max Holden (42 off 37) for a 51-run stand in 37 balls. Allah Ghazanfar then got the breakthrough when Zaman holed out to Tom Banton. Following his wicket, the bowlers kept the pressure on the Vipers, ensuring that boundaries were scarce.

Shimron Hetmyer (15 off 9) entered the fray after Holden retired-out and hit the first six of the innings in the 18th over. Soon after, Sam Curran (19 off 19) hit the ball straight into Tom Banton's hands to give Ghazanfar his second wicket of the night.

Dan Lawrence (15* off 8) also provided a key contribution towards the end while Hetmyer was scalped by Fazalhaq Farooqi in the final over of the innings as the Vipers finished at 159/4.

Player of the Match David Payne said: “It felt as though we were hanging on towards the end, waiting for the moment to break through. When that happened, we managed to take a few crucial wickets, and Rashid Khan ensured it went right down to the wire - probably an entertaining contest for the neutral. We kept the plans simple, hitting the pitch with good line and length. Overall, simplicity worked well today.”

Meanwhile, MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard praised the Vipers' bowling.

"The Vipers bowled brilliantly. We didn't finish the innings well, especially in the last couple of overs. It shows again that if you stay in the fight long enough in cricket, momentum can shift and you can lose from a winning position and that's what happened to us tonight," he said.

Brief scores

Desert Vipers beat MI Emirates by one run

Desert Vipers 159/4 in 20 overs (Max Holden 42, Fakhar Zaman 35, Allah Ghazanfar 2 for 32, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1 for 27)

MI Emirates 158/9 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 34, Nicholas Pooran 31, Kieron Pollard 23, David Payne 4 for 29, Khuzaima Tanveer 2 for 34)

Player of the Match: David Payne

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