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Thanks for joining me, Mohul Bhowmick, for this exciting game in the ILT20! Until next time, ciao!
Wanindu Hasaranga, player of the match: I came directly from the India series, and it was nice to have done well and won this game. The surface was helping me a little and I made use of it. Very happy to have picked the wicket of Andre Russell first ball.
Colin Munro, captain of Desert Vipers: It was a good performance by the lads. We are happy with what we have done. The boys did exceedingly well. The surface was good for batting. Alex Hales is one of the best players in T20 cricket across the world; he is very mature in his outlook. Very happy for him. It will be nice for us if he can continue this form.
Sunil Narine, captain of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: I think we needed more runs. Couple of wickets in the powerplay setup the game nicely for them. It boils down to making runs, if you bat first we need to put a total. That's what we need to do as a batting unit. I think it was a nice surface, they bowled really well. We have it a good hit. Russ came in and got a couple of wickets but Alex Hales pulled them back. I think a small total, one good partnership is enough and that's what happened.
Desert Vipers beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 7 wickets!
Alex Hales 64 (47) | Wanindu Hasaranga 3/18 Brandon King 57 (44) | Gus Atkinson 2/35
16.0
15.4 Andre Russell to Sherfane Rutherford, SIX! THE DESERT VIPERS WIN! Short of a length on middle and leg. Rutherford swivels in the crease and hoicks it away over deep square leg for a maximum! That will be the game- the Desert Vipers beat the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 7 wickets!
15.3 Andre Russell to Sam Billings, slowish down the legside, Billings flicks it away towards fine leg.
15.2 Andre Russell to Sam Billings, FOUR! SHOT! Full outside off, Billings leans forward and drives it through the covers. Caressed that one for a boundary! Exquisite shot by Billings!
15.1 Andre Russell to Sam Billings, shortish on middle and leg. Billings swivels and pulls it away past square leg for a brace to the deep.
15
overs
122/3score
0
W
2
3
1
0
runs
Sam Billings
28(26)
Sherfane Rutherford*
5(3)
Sunil Narine
1/26
14.6 Sunil Narine to Sherfane Rutherford, back of a length outside off. Rutherford punches it towards cover.
14.5 Sunil Narine to Sam Billings, back of a length outside off, Billings steers it past point. Single taken.
14.4 Sunil Narine to Sherfane Rutherford, back of a length outside off, Rutherford rocks back and cuts it past point. The ball sneaks through and rushes past the fielder. The fielder at point gives chase and just about saves a four! The ball boy gives the fielder a helping hand in throwing it back. Three taken.
14.3 Sunil Narine to Sherfane Rutherford, at a length outside off. Rutherford taps it wide of slip for a brace.
14.2 Sunil Narine to Alex Hales, OUT! DRAGGED THAT BACK ONTO THE STUMPS! At a length outside off, Hales tries to run it down to third man by opening the face of his bat. However, he closes the face of his bat too early. This means that the ball is dragged back onto the stumps. Hales departs now, although he has done most of the damage for the Vipers!
14.1 Sunil Narine to Alex Hales, WIDE down the legside, Narine takes the review for caught behind! The bat is far away from the ball and Hales stays for now. The review saves Narine the wide.
14
overs
116/2score
1w
0
4
1
1
4
1
runs
Alex Hales*
64(45)
Sam Billings
27(25)
Lahiru Kumara
0/35
13.6 Lahiru Kumara to Alex Hales, short of a length outside off. Hales cuts it straight to deep cover to retain strike.
13.5 Lahiru Kumara to Alex Hales, FOUR! SWATS THAT ONE AWAY! Slower delivery on middle and leg, moves away from him. Hales somehow manages to connect the pull shot off the top half of his bat. The ball goes past Russell at short fine leg for a four!