Dubai, 14 December 2025 – The Desert Vipers secured their place in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 playoffs with a thrilling five-wicket victory over the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. This win also marked a historic moment for the Vipers, who became the first team to achieve six consecutive wins in the tournament’s history.
Chasing a challenging target of 167 set by the Capitals, the Vipers were guided by a stellar all-round performance from Sam Curran. He played a crucial role with the ball, claiming two important wickets, and then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 52 off 33 balls, including two fours and three sixes.
Strong Start from the Vipers
Max Holden (34 off 22) set the tone early for the Vipers, with Fakhar Zaman (14 off 12) offering brief support before falling to Mustafizur Rahman in the fifth over. Despite the early setback, Holden remained calm and helped the Vipers reach 50/1 by the end of the powerplay.
Nawaz and Curran’s Middle Overs Contribution
Haider Ali (7th over) stemmed the flow of runs briefly, but Hassan Nawaz (31 off 17) attacked, hitting two sixes in the 9th over before falling to Waqar Salamkheil. By the end of the 10th over, the Vipers needed 79 from 60 balls.
Curran and Dan Lawrence (20 off 15) took control, guiding the Vipers through the middle overs with a solid 32-run partnership off 24 balls. However, Lawrence fell to Dasun Shanaka in the 14th over.
Shimron Hetmyer (18 off 17) quickly made his impact, smashing Shanaka for a six and a boundary in the 14th over. Curran remained composed at one end, while Hetmyer joined the charge, helping the Vipers cross the line with five wickets to spare.
Capitals’ Innings
Earlier, the Capitals got off to a shaky start when Naseem Shah removed Shayan Jahangir (7 off 7) in the third over. However, Leus du Plooy (54 off 44) steadied the innings with well-timed boundaries. Gulbadin Naib (21 off 20) supported him before being dismissed by Noor Ahmad with a clever googly, leaving the Capitals at 62/2.
Du Plooy continued to anchor the innings, bringing up his half-century with a six off Naseem. However, the turning point came in the 14th over, when Curran removed du Plooy in the deep and then dismissed Rovman Powell for a golden duck off the very next ball. This quick double strike left the Capitals at 94/4.
Cox and Shanaka’s Late Surge
Despite the setbacks, Jordan Cox (49* off 30) and Dasun Shanaka (29* off 18) counter-attacked, putting on a brisk 72-run stand off 40 balls. Their late assault, which included 30 runs off the final two overs, lifted the Capitals to a competitive total of 166/4.
Post-Match Reactions
Player of the Match, Sam Curran, reflected on his performance: “We’re in a good space after putting together some strong performances. The satisfaction comes from finishing the job for the team. It went a bit deeper than we would have liked, but I always focus on reading the situation and seeing the game through. When you’re winning, it simplifies decision-making, but we know we need to keep improving and carry this momentum into the business end.”
Dubai Capitals’ captain, Dasun Shanaka, noted: “At 166, we had a competitive total, especially given the quality of their bowling. However, our spinners didn’t hit the lengths we wanted, which made a difference. The Desert Vipers are a very strong team with five genuine bowling options, which makes them hard to contain. We had the firepower, but in hindsight, another 10 to 15 runs would have put us in a much stronger position.”
Environmental Message
The Desert Vipers also used the occasion to promote environmental awareness. Players wore special jerseys featuring ‘Biodiversity Stripes,’ symbolizing the decline of wildlife over the last 50 years. Made in the UAE from 100% recycled materials, the kit highlights the team’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact. Fans at the stadium participated in engaging green activities aimed at encouraging actions to protect nature.
Brief Scores:
- Dubai Capitals: 166/4 in 20 overs (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49* not out, Dasun Shanaka 29* not out, Sam Curran 2/17)
- Desert Vipers: 171/5 in 19.4 overs (Sam Curran 52* not out, Max Holden 34, Hassan Nawaz 31, Dasun Shanaka 2/19, Haider Ali 1/20)
Player of the Match: Sam Curran
