Desert Vipers Secure Dominant Eight-Wicket Win Over Sharjah Warriorz

Desert Vipers Secure Dominant Eight-Wicket Win Over Sharjah Warriorz

Alex Hales and Sam Curran delivered a masterclass in batting to guide the Desert Vipers to a commanding eight-wicket victory over the Sharjah Warriorz at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Their unbeaten 128-run partnership off just 65 deliveries ensured the Vipers chased down a target of 152 in only 14.5 overs, moving them closer to the playoff stage in Season 3 of ILT20.

Tanveer’s Four-Wicket Haul Sets the Tone

The foundation of the Vipers’ win was laid by Khuzaima Tanveer, whose brilliant four-wicket haul dismantled the Warriorz middle and lower order. The UAE pacer returned figures of 4/22, delivering a decisive blow in restricting the Sharjah Warriorz to 151/8 in 20 overs.

Opening the bowling, David Payne struck early, dismissing Johnson Charles and Avishka Fernando within the powerplay, leaving the Warriorz at 29/2. Despite a valiant effort by Jason Roy, who scored a fluent 55 off 38 balls, and skipper Tom Kohler-Cadmore (42 off 36), the Warriorz struggled to build momentum.

Tanveer’s sharp spell accounted for key dismissals, including Rohan Mustafa, Luke Wood, and Tim Southee, preventing the Warriorz from finishing strong. Late fireworks from Ashton Agar (15 not out, including two sixes) helped push the total to 151/8, which seemed competitive but ultimately fell short.

Hales and Curran Shine in the Chase

Chasing 152, the Desert Vipers lost Fakhar Zaman and Dan Lawrence early, courtesy of a fiery spell from Adam Milne. However, the dismissal of both openers only set the stage for an explosive partnership between Alex Hales and Sam Curran.

Credit: ILT20 Media

Hales, initially watchful, unleashed his full range of strokes in the 13th over, smashing three consecutive sixes off Muhammad Jawadullah to bring up a scintillating half-century in just 36 balls. The English opener ended with seven boundaries and five sixes in his knock.

Curran matched Hales’ brilliance, punishing the Warriorz bowlers with a flurry of boundaries. He reached his half-century in just 33 balls, hitting two sixes and five fours. Their partnership saw the Vipers cross the finish line with ease, wrapping up the game with 31 balls to spare.

Post-Match Comments

Player of the Match – Khuzaima Tanveer:
“I always enjoy playing without pressure. Today, I focused on hitting the deck hard, as instructed by my captain. I’m thrilled to contribute to the team’s win.”

Sharjah Warriorz Captain – Tim Southee:
“We started well but lost too many wickets in the middle and late overs. Credit to Jason Roy for finding form. Moving forward, we must string consistent performances together.”

Brief Scores

Sharjah Warriorz 151/8 in 20 overs (Jason Roy 55, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 42, Tim Seifert 16, Khuzaima Tanveer 4 for 22, David Payne 2 for 33)

Desert Vipers 152/2 in 14.5 overs (Alex Hales 77 not out, Sam Curran 54 not out, Adam Milne 2 for 17)
Player of the Match: Khuzaima Tanveer

Desert Vipers beat Sharjah Warriorz by eight wickets




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