ILT20 Season 3: Hales and Curran Lead Desert Vipers to Dominant 8-Wicket Triumph Over Sharjah Warriorz

Sharjah, Jan 25 (NationPress) Alex Hales and Sam Curran propelled the Desert Vipers to a decisive eight-wicket victory against the Sharjah Warriorz in ILT20 Season 3, held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The duo forged an impressive 128-run partnership in just 65 balls, transforming a manageable chase of 152 into a one-sided spectacle. Hales recorded a rapid 36-ball half-century while Curran followed suit with a blistering 33-ball fifty, ensuring that the Vipers clinched the win in 14.5 overs, edging closer to the playoff stage.

Earlier, David Payne set the tone for the Vipers with a sharp spell, claiming two wickets. UAE’s Khuzaima Tanveer then dominated the middle and lower order with an outstanding four-wicket haul, while Jason Roy made a notable contribution for the Warriorz, scoring 55 runs off 38 balls.

While defending 151, early breakthroughs were vital for the Warriorz, and Adam Milne delivered by dismissing Fakhar Zaman and Dan Lawrence within the first four overs, giving his side the ideal start. However, Hales and Curran quickly took control of the chase. Initially cautious, Hales accelerated dramatically, hitting three consecutive sixes off Muhammad Jawadullah in the 13th over to reach his 36-ball half-century. Hales concluded the innings with seven fours and five sixes.

Curran soon followed with a barrage of boundaries, smashing Adam Zampa for six and two fours in the 14th over, while Tim Southee’s 15th over yielded 19 runs, sealing the deal for the Vipers. Curran reached his 33-ball fifty, featuring two sixes and five fours, as the Vipers effortlessly chased down the target in just 14.5 overs.

In the first innings, David Payne gave the Vipers an early advantage, utilizing the new ball to remove Johnson Charles and in-form Avishka Fernando within the first five overs, leaving the Warriorz scrambling for stability.

Skipper Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Jason Roy responded with aggression, consistently finding gaps to construct a 50-run partnership in merely 33 balls, with Roy looking in exceptional form, contributing 24 runs off just 13 balls.

Kohler-Cadmore, batting with intent, shifted gears with a towering six off Wanindu Hasaranga, but the leg-spinner retaliated in the same over, dismissing the batter for 42 runs off 36 balls. At the halfway mark, the Warriorz were 75/3. Jason Roy continued to lead the charge and secured his half-century in just 35 balls. His dismissal in the 17th over, courtesy of Mohammed Amir, disrupted the late innings.

Meanwhile, Khuzaima Tanveer was exceptional, dismantling the middle and lower order with a decisive spell, taking out Tim Seifert for 16 runs, as well as Rohan Mustafa, Luke Wood, and Tim Southee, finishing with figures of four wickets for 22 runs. Ashton Agar contributed a crucial late cameo, remaining unbeaten on 15 runs, including two sixes, pushing the total to 151/8 in 20 overs.

Brief scores:

Sharjah Warriorz 151/8 in 20 overs (Jason Roy 55, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 42, Tim Seifert 16, Khuzaima Tanveer 4-22, David Payne 2-33) lost to Desert Vipers 152/2 in 14.5 overs (Alex Hales 77 not out, Sam Curran 54 not out, Adam Milne 2-17) by eight wickets.