The Desert Vipers held their nerve in a nail-biting finish to edge past the Gulf Giants in the first-ever Super Over of the DP World ILT20, clinching a dramatic victory at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday night.
Chasing a stiff target of 180, Dan Lawrence (56 off 31) and Sam Curran (44 off 36) produced a sensational rescue act to drag the Vipers to 179/9, before sealing the match in the Super Over. The result also extended the Vipers’ perfect record against the Giants to six wins from six meetings and marked their third consecutive victory of the season.
Despite a brilliant four-wicket haul from Azmatullah Omarzai (4/32), the Giants were unable to close out the contest as the Vipers’ lower order chipped in under pressure to force the decider.
Giants fire early, stall late
The Gulf Giants exploded out of the blocks with Pathum Nissanka (56 off 29) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (41 off 31) punishing the Vipers’ attack early. The duo smashed 14 runs off Naseem Shah in the opening exchanges and raced to a 50-run stand inside five overs, powering the Giants to 58 in the powerplay.
Nissanka continued his blistering form, bringing up his third half-century in as many matches off just 27 balls, before Noor Ahmad dismissed him immediately after his fourth six of the night. The opening stand of 73 laid the foundation.
Gurbaz then carried the momentum, while James Vince (25 off 22) provided support in a 54-run stand before Khuzaima Tanveer struck twice in quick succession to reduce the Giants to 129/3 after 14 overs.
Late wickets from Noor Ahmad and David Payne slowed the scoring, with only 38 runs coming from the final five overs, as the Giants closed on 179/5.
Vipers wobble, then roar back
The chase began poorly for the Vipers as Omarzai dismissed Fakhar Zaman for 1, before Mark Adair removed Andries Gous to leave them reeling at 14/2.
Curran and Impact Player Max Holden (15 off 15) attempted to steady the innings, but the Vipers were still struggling at 65/3 at the halfway stage after Haider Razzaq struck.
That’s when Curran and Lawrence ignited the comeback. The pair stitched together a vital 60-run stand, with Curran hammering three sixes before falling to Nuwan Thushara.
Lawrence reached his fifty in just 28 balls, but the drama peaked in the 18th over when Omarzai removed Shimron Hetmyer (16 off 8) and then Lawrence in the same over to swing momentum again.
With 13 required off the final over, Tanveer smashed a six before being dismissed by a spectacular catch from Gurbaz. Vriitya Aravind then kept his composure to level the scores and force a Super Over.
Super Over nerves and Naseem’s ice-cold finish
Batting first in the Super Over, the Vipers posted 13/1, with Lawrence finding the fence before Thushara removed him.
Defending the total, Naseem Shah delivered under immense pressure, restricting the Giants to just nine runs, as the Vipers celebrated a historic win.
Captains react
Sam Curran, Desert Vipers stand-in captain, said: “It has been the trend recently, but I am not complaining, three wins from three. Tanveer has been working extremely hard on his batting in the nets. To hit a six under pressure and then bowl really well are very positive signs.”
Moeen Ali, Gulf Giants stand-in skipper, admitted: “We made a couple of mistakes at the wrong time and allowed them back into the game. In this format, the game is never over, and it was one we could easily have won.”
Brief Scores
Gulf Giants 179/5 (20 overs)
Pathum Nissanka 56, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 41
Khuzaima Tanveer 2/23, Noor Ahmad 2/47
Desert Vipers 179/9 (20 overs)
Dan Lawrence 56, Sam Curran 44
Azmatullah Omarzai 4/32, Nuwan Thushara 2/33
Super Over:
Desert Vipers 13/1
Gulf Giants 9/0
Player of the Match: Dan Lawrence
