Dubai Capitals clinch last-ball thriller against Desert Vipers to reach DP World ILT20 final
DUBAI: The Dubai Capitals clinched a thrilling last-ball victory against the Desert Vipers on Wednesday, securing their place in the final of the DP World ILT20 season three.
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
In a nail-biting finish at the Dubai International Stadium, an all-round masterclass from Gulbadin Naib — featuring a third consecutive half-century against the Vipers, and a two-wicket haul — propelled the Capitals to a five-wicket win.
The triumph not only marked the second-highest run chase in T20s at the venue but also extended the Capitals' dominance over the Vipers with their fifth consecutive win against the side.
Earlier in the evening, Alex Hales lit up the innings with a blistering 67 off just 32 balls, forging a 98-run partnership with Max Holden to give the Vipers a flying start. However, the Capitals fought back brilliantly with the ball, restricting the Vipers to 189/7 and setting the stage for a dramatic chase.
Chasing a steep target amidst the pressure of a playoff, the Dubai Capitals had a steady powerplay of 47 runs without losing any wickets. Adam Rossington struck Sam Curran for three boundaries in the fifth over to make his intentions clear, but the Capitals were already falling behind.
Meanwhile, Shai Hope mustered a run-a-ball knock of 17 runs before he was claimed by Wanindu Hasaranga in the seventh over. The runs dried up after the first six overs and the situation worsened when Lockie Ferguson cleaned up Rossington for 44 runs in 31 balls in the 10th over to bring the scoreline to 67/2.
Naib and skipper Sam Billings were tasked with recalibrating the run chase and the pair got to work quickly. Billings attacked Mohammad Amir in the 12th over, hitting two fours and a six, then reverse-swept Hasaranga for three fours and a six in the next over. However, a mix-up led to his run-out in the same over, cutting short his explosive innings at 38 runs off 16 balls.
Naib motored on as he was joined by Rovman Powell. The Capitals needed 52 runs from 30 balls. Powell raced to 20 runs before he was scalped by David Payne in the 18th over. The Capitals required 12 in the last over and Naib was lucky to squeeze six runs off the first two balls. He was dropped by Dhruv Parashar on the next ball but perished a ball later with the scores tied. Sikandar Raza struck a boundary on the last ball to seal the run chase.
In the first innings, the UAE's Farhan Khan removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz to give the Capitals a breakthrough in the first over. The powerplay belonged to the Vipers as Hales and Holden steered them to 64/1 in six overs. Hales, who was particularly destructive, was dropped in the fifth over. The same over would see 14 runs as the error proved costly.
Hales dispatched Raza for two consecutive sixes in the seventh over as he brought up a 28-ball fifty. He smashed seven fours and cleared the ropes thrice to reach the milestone for the ninth time in the DP World ILT20.
The Dubai Capitals bounced back to derail the Vipers' onslaught. While the first seven overs had seen 84 runs, the next seven overs only produced 45 runs, courtesy of tight spells from the spin duo of Haider Ali and Qais Ahmad.
Though Holden was the more conservative partner, the pair had put on 98 runs in 52 balls until Naib caught Hales off his own bowling in the ninth over. Naib was in action again as Holden holed out to him at long-on, off Ahmad, for 36 runs in 26 balls. The Vipers were at 107/3 in 10.1 overs.
Curran and Dan Lawrence moved with caution, preserving their wicket as the Vipers limped to 136/3 in 15 overs. Curran broke the shackles with two sixes off Qais, but was caught by Naib in the same over, for 24 runs in 21 balls.
While Rutherford and Hasaranga departed cheaply, Lawrence found a few more boundaries but departed for 35 runs to Dushmantha Chameera in the 19th over. It was Khuzaima Tanveer's late flourish of 15 runs in five deliveries including a six and two fours in the final over that helped the Vipers post 189/7 in 20 overs.
Player of the Match Naib said: 'When you played a good game in the past, you remind yourself of that. I was reminded of the previous fifties I got. I took some time at the start. I can play at any position.
'Number three now is my lucky number. I have opened as well so I can bat anywhere. We played a lot of cricket here in Dubai. It was a pressure game, and I love pressure games. With the ball, I used the surface. I used my variations a lot.'
The Desert Vipers' captain Ferguson commented: 'It was a tough night. It was a great game of cricket, obviously dew came on and made the game difficult for us. We were unfortunate not to have come out on top. I thought it was a great total but it's T20 cricket. Alex Hales played very well earlier.'
The MI Emirates will take on the Sharjah Warriorz in the eliminator on Thursday. The winner of the encounter will face the Dubai Capitals for a place in the final.
Brief scores
Dubai Capitals beat Desert Vipers by 5 wickets
Desert Vipers 189/7 in 20 overs (Alex Hales 67, Max Holden 36, Dan Lawrence 35, Gulbadin Naib 2 for 25, Qais Ahmad 2 for 29)
Dubai Capitals 193/5 in 20 overs (Gulbadin Naib 62, Adam Rossington 44, Sam Billings 38, Lockie Ferguson 2 for 32, David Payne 1 for 31)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
14-05-2025
- Arab News
DP World International League T20 4th season to start on UAE National Day
DUBAI: Season four of the DP World International League T20 tournament will start on Dec. 2 — UAE National Day — it has been announced. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude just over a month later, with the final taking place on Jan. 4, 2026. The biggest T20 league in the Gulf region has moved out of its traditional January-February window as the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is scheduled for February-March 2026. ILT20 chairman ILT20 and Emirates Cricket Board vice chairman, Khalid Al-Zarooni, said: 'We are delighted to confirm that the DP World International League T20 season four will commence on the UAE National Day — Eid-Al-Etihad — which is one of the most important days on the UAE calendar. 'The UAE National Day is the day where we celebrate the United Arab Emirates, which is home to people from around the world including millions of diehard cricket fans. It is a real honor for us to join the nation in the UAE National Day 2025 celebrations with the launch of the region's biggest T20 league on the same day.' DP World ILT20 CEO David White added: 'The ICC Men's T20 World Cup begins in early February; hence it was important for us to start and finish season four well before the tournament as it will allow the players playing both the DP World ILT20 and the T20 World Cup to prepare for national duty. In addition, we feel the December-January window will provide the teams the best opportunity to access a bigger pool of players. 'Season three was a big success with outstanding broadcast and digital numbers as the fans enjoyed a step up in the quality of cricket. The teams gave their absolute all across the hugely competitive 34 tournament matches, which concluded with a nail-biting final. We are now fully focused on making an even bigger impact as we turn our attention to Season 4.' Season three featured major T20 stars including Nicholas Pooran, Sam Curran (player of the tournament — red belt winner), Shai Hope (most runs in the tournament — green belt winner), Fazalhaq Farooqi (highest wicket-taker — white belt winner), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Jason Holder, Alex Hales, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson, David Warner, Rovman Powell, Dasun Shanaka, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, James Vince, Shimron Hetmyer, Tom Banton, Romario Shepherd, Tim Southee, Tim Seifert, Matthew Wade, Jason Roy, Adil Rashid and Adam Zampa. The Dubai Capitals won the trophy, edging out the Desert Vipers in a thrilling final which was played in front of a full house at the Dubai International Stadium.
Arab News
13-02-2025
- Arab News
Desert Vipers back extra opportunities for UAE players in future editions of DP World ILT20
DUBAI: The Desert Vipers' CEO Phil Oliver says the franchise would support an increase in the number of UAE players from two to three in the starting 11s of sides in future editions of the DP World ILT20. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Speaking during the Vipers Voices podcast, Oliver reflected on the 2025 tournament that ended on Sunday when the Vipers lost to the Dubai Capitals in a thrilling final in front of a capacity crowd at the Dubai International Stadium. On the status of UAE players, he said: 'I think it is very apparent that the talent is there to sustain two players in the starting 11s and potentially increase it.' He said there were 'some nuances around it in the super-sub rule. My view is that the introduction of the super sub, something that usually happens at the end of the first innings of matches, often means an international-quality player coming in.' This was 'something that often seems to reduce the opportunity to contribute for one of the two UAE players so there is a bigger picture for the franchises and the league to discuss.' He added: 'We could go to three UAE players or perhaps a player from one of the other Associate countries instead, as there is the requirement to have two Associates in the 18-man matchday squad. 'So maybe there is something on that Associate angle too, because we are really developing these Associate players, not only UAE players, through them having this exposure to fantastic coaches and players for the period of the tournament. 'I think options could be looking at the super-sub rule and asking could that be a UAE player who has to come in, or perhaps a third UAE player (in the starting 11). 'We would be supportive of any of these sorts of moves to be discussed and properly looked at because it is very apparent that the quality is there. 'We have had a fantastic group of UAE players throughout the first three years of this tournament. And the fact we had Khuzaima bin Tanveer break through this year and become a genuine frontline bowling option for us, I think, says it all, so the talent is there. 'We need to give the pathway for these players to develop so we very much look forward to introducing more opportunities for UAE players.' The tournament may be over for this year, but the Vipers' presence in the UAE will continue with a growing number of initiatives, including the franchise's schools outreach program that began in the second half of 2023. The program, which combines coaching and an introduction to the Vipers' sustainability agenda that references recycling, sustainability and the ongoing climate emergency, has exposed more than 12,000 children to the sport. Oliver said it would continue over the coming months. 'It is great that the schools program has been ticking along in the background,' he said. 'During the tournament the coaches were working hard and we were able to get a group of the players to go in and join a couple of sessions, so that was great for the kids to see the heroes up close and for the players to see what we do behind the scenes.'
Arab News
12-02-2025
- Arab News
The DP World ILT20 is maturing
LONDON: After much jostling for position between the eight teams in the round robin group stages of ILT20 2025, the two finalists which emerged were beaten finalists in the two previous years. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport In 2023, the Desert Vipers were beaten by the Gulf Giants and in 2024 MI Emirates defeated the Dubai Capitals. Thus, it was guaranteed that 2025 would see first-time champions. Although the Vipers had led the way in the group stage, the Capitals seemed to have a hold over them, having beaten them in both group stage matches. This ascendancy was confirmed when the Capitals triumphed off the last ball of the first qualifier to condemn the Vipers to the second qualifier and elevate the Capitals directly to the final. The Vipers then reached the final via the second qualifier by beating the Sharjah Warriorz, who improved on their 2024 performance by some measure. As tournaments mature, historical performance begins to generate rivalries. The one between the Capitals and the Vipers has begun to do that. In the final, there was added piquancy in that both captains were English and both have played for England. Sam Curran captained the Desert Vipers because the appointed captain, Lockie Ferguson, had suffered a hamstring injury toward the close of the first qualifying match against the Delhi Capitals. This ruled him out of the rest of the tournament. On the revolving circus that is franchise cricket, Sam Billings, the Capitals captain, had previously played with the Vipers in 2023. Who knows how much his release from them motivates him when pitted against his former team. This year, Billings joined the Vipers squad in time for the final two group stage matches after playing in the final of the Big Bash in Australia. His impact seems to have been immediate and, confident as he is, he will play that down. Captaining and organizing a group of elite cricketers is a special skill and Billings honed this to perfection in this year's tournament. Each team, their captains and coaches talk of game plans. These are framed according to the squad's own strengths and weaknesses relative to those of the opposition. After the final, Billings talked of being blown off the Capitals' game plan by the loss of early wickets in pursuit of a target of 190. At 31 for three after 4.5 overs, the Capitals were in some trouble. This situation looked to worsen for them at the beginning of the eighth over when Rovman Powell was given out stumped, following a smart piece of wicketkeeping by Azam Khan down the leg side. The score was 46 for four, but drama ensued. As Powell trudged off the field, he was asked to wait while the third umpire checked the dismissal. There are moments in cricket which are arcane and quite difficult for the uninitiated to comprehend. What unfolded was one of those moments. Law 27.3.1 states that 'The wicketkeeper shall remain wholly behind the wicket at the striker's end from the moment the ball comes into play until a ball delivered by the bowler touches the bat or person of the striker or passes the wicket at the striker's end or the striker attempts a run.' Law 27.3.2 then states that 'In the event of the wicketkeeper contravening this law, the striker's end umpire shall call and signal no-ball as soon as applicable after the delivery of the ball.' After reviewing the action, the third umpire ruled that the wicketkeeper had not taken the ball with his hands fully behind the stumps. In this case it was millimeters of one, maybe, two fingers. Powell was reprieved, a no-ball was awarded and, to add insult to injury for the Vipers, Powell hit the next ball, which was a free hit, for six. He then went on to club 63 runs, setting the base for some brutal hitting in the final overs by Dasun Shanaka and Sikandar Raza. Ultimately, their experience triumphed over some inexperienced bowling at the close of the innings. Billings referred to this in his post-match interview as a facet recognized in their game plan. The stumping decision was the seminal moment in the match. It seemed harsh on Khan, who had reacted superbly to the ball as it passed the batter down the leg side, pouching it in his left hand, before breaking the stumps with the ball in both hands. Spectators do not have the benefit of seeing the action in slow motion, multiple times, as did the third umpire, and can only defer to that superior position. In this context it is ironic that, prior to the match, Simon Taufel, who leads the tournament's panel of officials, made himself available to talk to members of the press. Taufel, widely regarded as one of the best umpires in the history of the sport, stood as an elite umpire between 2000 and 2012. He stressed the high caliber of umpires on the ILT20 panel and the developmental work which it does to build local umpiring capacity. Top level professional cricket matches require not just two on-field umpires, but a third off-field umpire and a match referee. Throughout ILT20 2025, Taufel and the former Sri Lankan player Roshan Mahanama have acted as match referees. He referred to their role as one of assessors. This necessitates a report on each official for each of the 34 matches played in the tournament. The tournament had deployed two specialist TV umpires and Taufel was keen to point out that, up to that point in the tournament, the third umpire had not made a mistake. Furthermore, the on-field umpires had got 92 percent of decisions correct. The stumping incident arose to test those levels in the tournament's pinnacle match. In-match decisions by officials are the visible part of their jobs. Taufel emphasized the amount of training and preparation which goes on behind the scenes. He revealed that officials have coaches who push and support their development. A part of his work and that of his panel is to raise the standards of officiating alongside those of the playing strength. This is in line with the objective of growing cricket in the UAE, not just for players but also the landscape for officials, both men and women. The creation of pathways of opportunity means providing access to international standards. Local officials are given opportunities to shadow experienced international officials. An international coach was engaged for the first week of the tournament to develop local talent. Taufel said that he had been impressed by the passion and enthusiasm of this talent, their eagerness to learn and their aspirations to officiate on the international stage. This developmental theme was echoed afterwards in a separate interview with David White, the CEO of the DP World ILT20. I asked him when he expects the startup status, which he has accorded the tournament in previous discussions, to develop into something more mature. His reply was to reveal that he thinks it has gone past that stage. This view is based on heightened levels of competition between teams, much enhanced social media awareness, and attraction of world-class players and officials, coupled with clear evidence of developing local UAE talent. Another criterion which will be used to judge this, once data becomes available, is audience viewing figures. Apparently, initial indications are of an upward trend. All of this bodes well for the tournament in the increasingly competitive world of franchise cricket.
