Desert Vipers beat Gulf Giants by 6 wickets

Dubai, UAE – The Desert Vipers secured their second consecutive victory in the ongoing tournament, defeating the Gulf Giants by six wickets in a low-scoring encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday evening. An unbeaten 42-run knock by all-rounder Sam Curran anchored the Vipers’ chase, ably supported by Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive 40 off 18 balls.

The Gulf Giants, batting first, struggled against the Vipers’ disciplined pace attack, managing only 119/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Skipper James Vince played a valiant innings, remaining unbeaten on 76 runs off 62 balls, while the rest of the batting lineup crumbled. Lockie Ferguson (3/22) and Mohammad Amir (2/23) dismantled the Giants’ top and middle order with clinical precision. Despite Vince’s resistance, the Giants failed to build partnerships, leaving the Vipers with a manageable target.

The Vipers’ chase, however, started on a shaky note as Mark Adair removed Fakhar Zaman and Dan Lawrence in the second over, reducing them to 5/2. Alex Hales and Sam Curran steadied the innings, adding 49 runs for the third wicket. Hales played a cautious 20-run knock before falling to Blessing Muzarabani.

Curran, displaying remarkable composure, kept the scoreboard ticking amidst pressure. His partnership with Sherfane Rutherford proved decisive as the duo added an unbeaten 55 runs in just 32 balls. Rutherford’s power-hitting in the 18th over, including two sixes and a four, sealed the chase with 14 balls to spare.

Reflecting on the match, Player of the Match Sam Curran remarked, “It was nice to win on a tricky pitch. It felt almost like a Test match out there, and I had to trust my defense and adapt to the conditions.”

Gulf Giants skipper James Vince lamented missed opportunities, saying, “It was tough batting first on a moist wicket. We needed a bit of luck and to capitalize on our chances, but credit to the Vipers for the way they played.”

Brief Scores:

• Gulf Giants: 119/9 in 20 overs (James Vince 76*, Aayan Afzal Khan 15; Lockie Ferguson 3/22, Mohammad Amir 2/23)
• Desert Vipers: 121/4 in 17.4 overs (Sam Curran 42, Sherfane Rutherford 40; Mark Adair 2/12, Tymal Mills 1/23)
• Player of the Match: Sam Curran