Desert Vipers overcame a tense finish to secure a five-wicket victory over Sharjah Warriorz at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday, sealing their eighth win of the group stage in the DP World ILT20. The result confirmed the Vipers as the competition’s most consistent side and officially ended the Warriorz’s playoff hopes.
With this victory, the Vipers became the first team to reach eight wins this season, underlining their dominance heading into the knockout phase. Sharjah Warriorz, meanwhile, were left to reflect on missed opportunities in a campaign that never fully gathered momentum.
The outcome also sharpened the playoff picture. Only one place in the top four remains available, with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Gulf Giants set to battle it out in the final league match on Sunday. MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers have already secured qualification.
Earlier in the evening, Desert Vipers’ bowlers laid the foundation with a disciplined performance. Naseem Shah led the attack superbly, claiming three wickets to restrict the Warriorz to a modest 140 for seven from their 20 overs. The total always appeared slightly below par on a surface offering value for shots.
Sharjah Warriorz suffered an early setback after being reduced to 6 for two inside the first two overs. David Payne trapped Monank Patel LBW in the opening over before Khuzaima Tanveer dismissed Tom Abell for a duck, putting immediate pressure on the hosts’ batting line-up.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore attempted to counter-attack, striking Naseem Shah for 19 runs in a single over to lift the scoring rate during the powerplay. Opener Johnson Charles, initially cautious, found his rhythm later and provided some stability at the top.
Charles broke free in the eighth over with two towering sixes off Qais Ahmad and added 61 runs with Kohler-Cadmore for the third wicket. That partnership briefly revived the Warriorz innings before Naseem Shah struck again, bowling Kohler-Cadmore in the tenth over.
Momentum shifted decisively when Qais Ahmad produced a double breakthrough in the 12th over. Charles was dismissed for 43, and skipper Sikandar Raza departed for a golden duck, leaving the Warriorz struggling at 79 for five.
James Rew and Ryan Burl attempted to rebuild but found boundaries hard to come by. Naseem returned at the death to remove Rew and Harmeet Singh, closing out a controlled bowling effort and limiting the Warriorz to 140 for seven.
In reply, the Vipers’ chase got off to a shaky start. Sikandar Raza and Richard Ngarava applied early pressure, reducing the visitors to 28 for two after six overs. Fakhar Zaman and Andries Gous were dismissed cheaply as runs dried up in the powerplay.
Sam Curran and Max Holden then steadied the innings with a calm and measured partnership. The pair rotated strike efficiently and added 64 runs in 53 balls, ensuring the required rate remained manageable despite the slow start.
Harmeet Singh briefly turned the contest with a strong spell in the middle overs. He dismissed Curran LBW and later removed Dan Lawrence and Jason Roy, creating late tension as the Vipers slipped into a mini-collapse.
However, Holden held his nerve. The left-hander anchored the chase with an unbeaten 66 from 46 balls, striking nine fours and a six. He found an ideal partner in Hasan Nawaz, whose quick 25 not out from 14 deliveries shifted momentum decisively.
Their unbeaten stand of 47 runs in 26 balls guided the Vipers home with three balls to spare, ensuring a five-wicket victory and another statement performance ahead of the qualifiers.
After the match, Vipers captain Sam Curran praised his side’s adaptability and consistency. He highlighted Holden’s composure and the importance of players spending time in the middle as the tournament approaches its decisive phase.
Sharjah Warriorz skipper Sikandar Raza admitted his team fell short in key moments throughout the season. While disappointed with their batting returns, he pointed to encouraging performances from the bowling unit as a positive takeaway from a difficult campaign.