MI Emirates continued their impressive run in the International League T20, securing their third consecutive victory with a well-managed four-wicket win against the league-leading Desert Vipers. The match unfolded at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, where disciplined bowling and a calm chase defined the outcome.
Vipers Stifled by Disciplined Bowling Attack
Choosing to bat first, the Desert Vipers found scoring difficult on a sluggish pitch. Their innings never gained the necessary momentum, eventually being restricted to a modest total of 124 for 7 in their 20 overs. Dan Lawrence provided the only significant resistance with an unbeaten 35 from 34 deliveries, while Max Holden contributed 20.
The MI Emirates bowling unit executed their plans perfectly. The spinners, led by the experienced Shakib Al Hasan who returned exceptional figures of 2 for 14, applied a stranglehold during the middle overs. Pacer Zahoor Khan supported brilliantly with precise death bowling, finishing with 2 for 17. Earlier, Chris Woakes had set the tone with a frugal opening spell.
A Tricky Chase Anchored by Experience
In response, the MI Emirates chase did not start smoothly. They lost early wickets and crawled to 35 for 2 in the powerplay. The pressure mounted in the middle overs as the Vipers' bowlers maintained tight lines. The dismissals of Nicholas Pooran and Tom Banton, who fell while trying to accelerate, left the game in a delicate balance.
The momentum shifted decisively when the powerful Kieron Pollard launched a crucial assault, smashing two sixes off spinner Qais Ahmad. His quickfire 26 changed the complexion of the game. After Pollard's departure, Shakib Al Hasan displayed immense composure, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 17 and striking the winning boundary to seal the victory with 15 balls to spare.
Post-Match Reactions and Analysis
Named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution, Shakib Al Hasan highlighted the challenging conditions. "It was a surface that suited the spinners, and the focus was on hitting the right areas consistently," he said. "Batting wasn't easy either. With powerful hitters in our lineup, someone needed to anchor, and I was happy to take that responsibility to ensure we finished the chase."
Desert Vipers' stand-in captain, Sam Curran, pointed to the difficult pitch and squad rotation as factors. "It was another low-scoring game on a tricky surface. Facing a quality spin attack like Emirates' made it tougher," Curran stated. He also mentioned managing player workloads, especially with qualification secured, referencing an incident with Lockie Ferguson.
The victory solidifies MI Emirates' position in the tournament, while the Desert Vipers will look to bounce back from this setback.
Brief Scores:
Desert Vipers: 124/7 in 20 overs (Dan Lawrence 35*, Max Holden 20; Shakib Al Hasan 2/14, Zahoor Khan 2/17).
MI Emirates: 128/6 in 17.3 overs (Kieron Pollard 26, Sanjay Krishnamurthi 21; Matiullah Khan 2/18).
