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Vipers beat Abu Dhabi Knights by seven wickets
Desert Vipers players celebrate taking the wicket against Abu Dhabi Knights at the Dubai International Stadium. — Photo by Neeraj Murali
Sometimes all it takes is a glance to tell which teams look like it and which don’t. It’s too early to tell, but based on early evidence, the Desert Vipers are one of the few teams to succeed in the inaugural DP World International League T20 (ILT20).
The other night the Desert Vipers played well in their opening match against the Sharjah Warriors in Dubai. On Wednesday night at the same venue – the Dubai International Cricket Stadium – Colin Munro’s Vipers swallowed another victim along the way. This time it was the Abu Dhabi Knights, who were comfortable at home, winning by seven wickets and 26 runs.
That left the Manchester United-owned side with a two-for-two record, while Knight Riders had everything to do after suffering their third defeat in the trot. The franchise co-owned by Shah Rukh Khan is languishing at the feet of the points table.
Once again, it was the irrepressible opener Alex Hales and his fellow Briton Sam Billings who came out on top in a modest 134-run chase. Hales, who is undefeated in 83 games against the Braves, had a fluid 64 points on 47 pitches, perfectly timing the chase that included seven boundaries and a six.
Billings, who scored 49 against the Braves, was still 35 not out after UAE opener Rohan Mustafa hit 11 balls for 23 off five boundaries.
Sri Lankan flying kicker Wanindu Hasaranga fit perfectly with the Vipers after their India tour, going 3-18 for man of the match. In fact, Hasalanga was on course for a hat-trick, but he couldn’t make it.
“I came here after the India series and went straight to this match. I am very happy with this win,” Hasaranga said in his post-match presentation.
“I thought it was a good win, the pitch was a bit slow. My idea was to try to hit the ball,” he added.
On ducking Andre Russell, he said: “He’s a dangerous player and I’m glad I got him out on the first pitch.”
Earlier, it might have been thought that Abu Dhabi Knights had a decent batting line-up that included T20 game-changing West Indian sprinters Andre Russell, Sunil Narin and Colin Ingram, Abu Dhabi Cavaliers will come out on top of the contending total.
But so far, their batting lineup has failed to live up to expectations.
Narine is good at starts, something he did for the Kolkata Knights in the IPL, finishing fifth in the match opener against Dubai Capitals before dropping to seventh against the Gulf Giants and Desert Vipers.
In these three games, Narine scored 4, 11 and 3 respectively. In bowling, he went 1-28, 2-21 and 1-26.
Likewise, Russell’s bat has been mediocre so far, scoring 12, 26 and a duck, though his 26 against the Bay Giants came on 12 pitches.
The Abu Dhabi Cavaliers clearly missed out on Paul Sterling, the burly Irishman who scored 54 from 38 shots and 20 runs in his first two games.
In his place was Brandon King, who was pushed into the opening order with keeper and batsman Kenal Lewis, Sri Lankan Dananjaya De Silva in third and Colin Ingram is fourth.
Another Sri Lankan, Charith Asalanka, was fifth, followed by Russell and Narine.
Despite all the tinkering with their roster, King is the only bright spot for the Knight Riders, if that can be called that.
King enjoyed his promotion, opening with the highest score, 57 of 44 pitches, including five boundaries and two sixes.
brief score
Desert Vipers beat Abu Dhabi Knights by 7 wickets.
Abu Dhabi Knights: 133-8 (Brandon King 57, Charith Asalanka 26; Wanindu Hasaranga 3-18, Gus Atkinson 2-35)
Desert Vipers: 135-3, 15.4 points (Alex Hales 64, Sam Billings 35 not out, Rohan Mustafa 23, Sherfane Rutherford 11 not out)
Player of the Match: Wanindu Hasaranga
today’s game
Dubai Capitals v Gulf Giants, Sharjah Cricket Ground, 6pm
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