In a captivating encounter at the Dubai International Stadium, the Desert Vipers emerged victorious with a thrilling two-wicket win over MI Emirates in the 14th match of the ILT20 season 2. The match witnessed a roller-coaster of emotions, culminating in a nail-biting finish that saw the Vipers triumph on the very last ball.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, the Vipers’ bowlers set the tone early on, led by the impressive Mohammad Amir, who finished with figures of 3 for 26. Alongside Luke Wood and Matheesha Pathirana, Amir spearheaded a disciplined bowling effort that restricted MI Emirates to 149 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Despite a spirited fightback from MI Emirates, the Vipers found themselves in a precarious position at 62 for 5 in their chase. However, Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive knock of 35, including crucial boundaries off the final over, turned the tide in favor of the Vipers. With 17 runs required off the last over, Shaheen Afridi and Luke Wood held their nerve to secure a dramatic win off the last ball of the match.
Earlier in the innings, opener Rohan Mustafa provided a solid start with 18 runs, while Azam Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga contributed valuable runs to keep the Vipers’ hopes alive.
MI Emirates’ bowlers put up a spirited performance, with Fazalhaq Farooqi and Muhammad Rohid impressing with the ball. However, it was ultimately Mohammad Amir’s all-round brilliance that proved decisive, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Reflecting on his performance, Amir commented, “It was an interesting game, and I am happy I did something for the team as I thought Rutherford would be the player of the match. We bowled in partnership, and it is important to communicate with each other.”
MI Emirates skipper Nicholas Pooran rued missed opportunities but remained optimistic about his team’s prospects, stating, “We felt we were 10-15 runs short, but in all honesty, we felt we could make it an interesting game if we could get a couple of early wickets.”
The Desert Vipers’ victory serves as a testament to their resilience and determination, reaffirming their status as formidable contenders in the ILT20 season 2.
Brief Scores:
MI Emirates: 149 for 9 in 20 overs (Ambati Rayudu 23, Akeal Hosein 24, Tim David 28; Mohammad Amir 3-26, Luke Wood 2-32, Matheesha Pathirana 2-32)
Desert Vipers: 150 for 8 in 20 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 26, Azam Khan 20, Sherfane Rutherford 35; Fazalhaq Farooqi 2-23, Muhammad Rohid 3-21, Dwayne Bravo 2-30)
Player of the Match: Mohammad Amir
Leave a Reply