Sam Billings and Sherfane Rutherford help Desert Vipers overpower Dubai Capitals and confirm a top-two finish
Desert Vipers defeated Dubai Capitals by 22 runs
- Gulf Giants and Desert Vipers have booked their spots in the playoffs
- Fans can avail of the extremely enticing ‘Friends and Family’ package – starting at AED20 to be in the running to be seen in the DP World ILT20 Fan Pod
- Photographs available here, match scorecards available here
UAE, Dubai 02 February, 2023: Desert Vipers dominated in all departments of the game to produce a 22-run win over Dubai Capitals in the 25th match of the DP World ILT20 held at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday night. Although it was a must-win match for Dubai Capitals, they could muster only 160 for 7 in 20 overs chasing Desert Vipers’ total of 182 for 7. This win has carried Desert Vipers to the top of the table and guaranteed them a top-two finish.
Desert Vipers bowled and fielded brilliantly after Sam Billings and Sherfane Rutherford cracked half centuries to put on 80 runs in just seven overs for the fifth wicket. Rutherford hit Yusuf Pathan for five sixes in the 16th over to take 31 runs. This onslaught proved to be vital in Desert Vipers’ win.
Dubai Capitals had won the toss and elected to bowl. Desert Vipers got off to a shocking start losing opener Alex Hales, the highest scorer of the tournament, for 1. He fell to the last ball of the first over from Fred Klaassen edging to Yusuf Pathan, who fumbled with the catch but wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa snapped the rebound.
The second over saw Mustafa open out and pull Hazrat Luqman over deep backward square for a six. He also drove the last ball past mid-off for a boundary. Yusuf Pathan, who bowls off break, was introduced for the third over and he struck taking the valuable wicket of skipper Colin Munro caught and bowled for 1. Pathan gave away just three runs in that over. UAE’s right-arm medium pacer Akif Raja too bowled brilliantly yielding only three runs. Mustafa hit his second six pulling Chamika Karunaratne into the stands. He also hit two boundaries off Klaassen which included an exquisite straight driven boundary. But he fell to the last ball of that over caught at fine leg boundary by Karunaratne for 31.
At the completion of powerplay, Desert Vipers were 45 for 3. Dubai Capitals strike bowler Adam Zampa was introduced for the seventh over. Sam Billing and Wanindu Hasaranga played him cautiously and by the halfway mark Desert Vipers were 74 for 3.
In the 11th over Zampa struck forcing Hasaranga to go for a slog sweep and top edge to wicketkeeper Uthappa for 14. Sherfane Rutherford joined Billing and carried Desert Vipers past the 100-run mark in the 14th over. Billings on 42, who attempted a slog sweep and top-edged, was dropped by Akif off Karunaratne.
Rutherford hit Pathan for five consecutive sixes – the first six over long-off, second over long-on, the third and fourth through pulled shots, while he swept the fifth for a six. Thirty-one runs came off that over and Billings reached his half-century in 43 deliveries. Rutherford too raced to his half-century in 23 balls but in the very next ball, he was run out to an under-arm direct hit by Uthappa. The pair had put on 80 runs in seven overs for the fifth wicket. Billings hit Karunaratne to Powell at long-on at 54 and Desert Vipers ended up posting 182 for 7 in 20 overs.
Dubai Capitals’ opener George Munsey, fresh from his knock of 57 against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in his last match, was out to the second ball of the second over from Sheldon Cottrell when he was bowled around his legs for a duck. Sikandar Raza, who joined opener Robin Uthappa, hit Cottrell for a six to fine leg in the fourth over. When on 26, Uthappa was dropped by Gus Atkinson at the deep mid-wicket boundary off Luke Wood. Two balls later, Uthappa (30) tried his luck again by pulling Wood to Atkinson who took the catch.
Raza then hit Tom Curran over mid-wicket for a six. At his score on 30, he was dropped by Atkinson at deep square leg off Hasaranga despite a brilliant effort. At the halfway, Dubai Capitals needed 106 runs to reach the target. In the 12th over, Dasun Shanaka fell to a brilliant diving catch by Rutherford at third man for 11 off Atkinson. Skipper Rovman Powell walked in with the required rate at 11.75. At the score of 90, Raza got out to a spectacular running catch by Mustafa racing to his right from deep point to extra cover off Cottrell for 41.
Half the side was back in the dug-out when Pathan, going for a mighty slog, got bowled by Hasaranga for 5. Dubai Capitals now needed 71 runs from the last five overs. Karunaratne fell in the 17th over to Curran for 10. Powell kept Dubai Captals’ hopes alive by playing some big shots but could not carry his team to the target. He hit 33 off 25 balls with three boundaries and two sixes before being clean bowled by Wood.
Speaking about his performance, Desert Vipers’ Sherfane Rutherford said, “Our coach has given me the role of giving the team the best finish I can and it’s good that I’m carrying out the role well. I hope I can continue performing for the team in the rest of the games.”
Meanwhile, Dubai Capitals’ Robin Uthappa said, “The five sixes from Sherfane Rutherford definitely took the momentum away from us. We dropped a catch of Sam Billings just before that over. I thought we did a really good job to restrict the Vipers to the score they were at before that over.”
Brief scores:
Desert Vipers bt Dubai Capitals by 22 runs Desert Vipers 182 for 7 in 20 overs (Rohan Mustafa 31, Sam Billings 54, Sherfane Rutherford 50, Fred Klassen 3 for 34) Dubai Capitals 160 for 7 in 20 overs (Robin Uthappa 30, Sikandar Raza 41, Rovman Powell 33, Sheldon Cottrell 2 for 36, Luke Wood 2 for 36)
Player of Match ($1500): Sherfane Rutherford
DP World Smart delivery of the day ($1500): Sheldon Cottrell to George Munsey
Fairplay News biggest hit of the match ($ 1500): Chamika Karunaratne’s six of 95 mts.
Skytech.Net Super 4s of the match ($1500): Robin Uthappa (5 boundaries)
Sportsbuzz Buzzmaker of the match ($1500): Sherfane Rutherford for scoring 96 fantasy points
Green Belt Holder: Alex Hales
White Belt Holder: Chris Jordan
Schedule for 03 February 2023:
MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6 pm GST (7:30 pm IST) – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MI Emirates will unveil the anticipated ‘MI Emirates Fan Carnival’ at their final home game with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on Friday, 3rd February at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Book your ticket now:
An enticing ‘Friends and Family’ package is available starting at an incredible AED20 for fans to enjoy the action from the stands, as well as have the chance to be chosen to sit in the luxurious ‘Fan Pod’ on offer at each stadium. More information about these packages and to purchase tickets can be found by visiting https://tickets.ilt20.ae.
The DP World ILT20 made its debut at the Dubai International Stadium on 13 January 2023. Some of the greatest cricketing superstars have made their way to the UAE to play in the inaugural edition of the league. The tournament is currently being played in a 34-match format across the UAE’s exemplary, world-class cricket facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Franchise teams, comprising over 100 International and 24 UAE-based players, include Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Knight Riders Group), Desert Vipers (Lancer Capital), Dubai Capitals (GMR), Gulf Giants (Adani Sportsline), MI Emirates (Reliance Industries), and Sharjah Warriors (Capri Global).
Cricket fans across the world can catch the LIVE telecast of this exciting cricket league on ZEE’s linear channels, digital platform, Zee5 as well as Zee Cinema SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema, &Pictures HD, &Flix SD, &Flix HD, Zee Zest SD, Zee Zest HD, Zee Bangla Cinema, Zee Thirai, and on CricLife across the UAE and MENA regions.
DP World ILT20 news, updates and interactive chat can be found via www.ilt20.ae and @ILT20Official on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, SnapChat and LinkedIn, while tickets can be purchased by visiting https://tickets.ilt20.ae.
– Ends –
FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT DP World ILT20 CONTACT
Email:
VISIT www.ilt20.ae
OR FOLLOW @ILT20Official on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, SnapChat and LinkedIn.
About DP World International League T20:
DP World ILT20 is a professional franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament with six franchise teams, comprising over 100 International and 24 UAE-based players, competing in a 34-match event. ILT20 combines two of the most compelling aspects of global sport – world class infrastructure coupled with the most favourable time zone catering to cricket fans around the world Franchise teams include Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Knight Riders Group), Desert Vipers (Lancer Capital), Dubai Capitals (GMR), Gulf Giants (Adani Sportsline), MI Emirates (Reliance Industries), and Sharjah Warriors (Capri Global). ILT20 has received multi-year ICC approval and will be broadcast Live across ZEE’s various worldwide linear platforms including streaming platform ZEE5, and on CricLife across the UAE and MENA regions. Tickets for the inaugural competition can be purchased by visiting https://tickets.ilt20.ae.
