In a commanding display at the Dubai International Stadium, the Desert Vipers etched their name into the history books by securing their first-ever International League T20 (ILT20) championship. Led by a masterful, unbeaten half-century from skipper Sam Curran, the Vipers overpowered the MI Emirates by a convincing margin of 46 runs on Friday, January 5.
Curran's Captain's Knock Seals the Deal
The foundation of the Vipers' triumph was laid by their inspirational captain, Sam Curran. Walking in early, the English all-rounder played a near-flawless innings, remaining not out on 74 runs from just 51 deliveries. His knock, decorated with eight boundaries and two maximums, provided the backbone for his team's total. He found able allies in Max Holden, who scored a steady 41, and Dan Lawrence, whose quickfire 23 off 15 balls provided late momentum. The Vipers posted a formidable 182 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs, a target that proved too steep for the Emirates.
Bowling Quartet Strangles MI Emirates' Chase
Defending their total, the Desert Vipers' bowlers delivered a clinical performance. The charge was led by the fiery Naseem Shah, who set the tone by removing openers Andre Fletcher and Tom Banton early. His figures of 3 for 18 crippled the top order. Spinner Usman Tariq (2/20) and medium-pacer Khuzaima Tanveer (2/22) maintained relentless pressure in the middle overs. Despite a fighting 36 from Shakib Al Hasan, the MI Emirates innings never gained momentum, crawling to 72/4 at the halfway stage. Left-arm pacer David Payne then extinguished any faint hopes, taking three wickets in the 18th over to wrap up the innings for 136 with nine balls to spare.
Awards and Accolades for the Champions
The victory was doubly sweet for Sam Curran, who capped off a phenomenal individual tournament. He was deservedly awarded both the Red Belt for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Green Belt for the Best Batter. Curran finished the ILT20 Season 4 as the tournament's standout performer, amassing 397 runs, taking seven wickets, and holding ten catches. The Desert Vipers' triumph earned them the coveted Black Belt trophy and a cash prize of USD 700,000, while the runners-up, MI Emirates, received USD 300,000.
Other individual awards saw Dubai Capitals' spinner Waqar Salamkheil claim the White Belt for Best Bowler for his 18 wickets. MI Emirates' opener Muhammad Waseem continued his consistent run, winning the Blue Belt for Best UAE Player for an unprecedented fourth consecutive season after scoring 370 runs. Each signature belt winner was awarded USD 15,000.
