Desert Vipers reaffirmed their dominance in the ILT20 Season 3 with a commanding five-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday. Max Holden’s composed knock of 70 off 54 balls guided the Vipers to a comfortable chase, securing a top-two finish in the league.
Holden, who stepped into the playing XI after missing the early matches, expressed his delight at contributing to the team’s success. “Yeah, very pleased. Obviously, it’s been a great group to be part of, watching from the sidelines. Everyone wants to play, so it’s great to get more opportunities tonight and secure that top-two spot,” he said.
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Despite a late flourish from Tom Curran, who smashed 64 off 34 balls with nine fours and a six, the Gulf Giants could only post 129/8. Wanindu Hasaranga and Sam Curran starred with the ball, taking three wickets each to restrict the opposition.
Holden credited the Vipers’ team environment for helping him settle in seamlessly. “It’s credit to how good the environment is with the Vipers. The coaches, the players – everyone has been so supportive. It’s a real family atmosphere, and they made it easy for me to go out and play tonight,” he remarked.
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The left-hander also praised the team’s adaptability throughout the tournament, especially in tricky conditions. “I think our top order has set a really good blueprint. The key has been to get through the tough phases, adapt to the conditions, and then accelerate. We’ve done that well all tournament,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gulf Giants fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani admitted his team missed an opportunity but highlighted the challenging pitch conditions. “Of course, today was a really good day to win, but I felt the wicket was nipping around, especially in the first innings. It got better as the game went on,” he said.
Muzarabani also lauded Tom Curran’s impressive knock. “He’s in great form at the moment. They wanted his early wicket because it was crucial for us, but he played really well,” he acknowledged.
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Reflecting on his own performance and the race for the white belt, awarded to the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Muzarabani remained focused on team success. “I’m not really thinking about it. I’m just focused on helping the team win. But if it happens, it’ll be really nice,” he said.
With this victory, the Vipers have strengthened their bid for the ILT20 title, while the Gulf Giants will look to bounce back in the upcoming matches.
