Fakhar Zaman‘s scintillating knock of 67 runs off 52 deliveries on Thursday propelled the Desert Vipers to a five-wicket victory over the MI Emirates in a thrilling encounter at the Dubai International Stadium. Fakhar Zaman‘s innings, coupled with Alex Hales 34 and Sam Curran’s crucial 28, proved pivotal in chasing down the target of 160 within 19.1 overs.
Fakhar Zaman dominated the Dubai International Stadium with a brilliant 67-run innings, leading the Desert Vipers to a five-wicket win over MI Emirates in the ILT20. Alongside key contributions from Alex Hales and Sam Curran, the Vipers successfully chased a 160-run target, showcasing remarkable strategy and execution under pressure.
Desert Vipers continued their terrific form in the ongoing ILT20 as they won their third consecutive game of the tournament. Vipers defeated MI Emirates by five wickets at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Thursday.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : “A brand new surface. It’s drier than the other pitches, so less seam but there’ll be some swing. Good batting deck, it might grip a bit.” reckons Wasim Akram
Toss : MI Emirates skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and chose to bat with no changes in the playing XI. Desert Vipers skipper Lockie Ferguson bowling first made one change in the playing XI with Mohammad Amir going out for David Payne.
Late surge from Kieron Pollard and Romario Shepherd powers MI Emirates to 159 for 6 in 20 overs
Opting to bat, MI Emirates posted a total of 159 for Six and in response, Vipers chased the target with five balls to spare. MI Emirates had a solid start with the bat as Kusal Perera (33:29b, 5×4) and Muhammad Waseem (18:17b, 2×4, 1×6) added 48 runs for the opening partnership. However, after that, batters couldn’t carry on as Emirates was left tottering at 86 for four.
But veteran Kieron Pollard (36:22b, 2×4, 3×6) stepped up for his team and, along with decent contributions from the lower order, powered his team to a total of 159 for six. For Desert Vipers, skipper Lockie Ferguson picked two wickets. After electing to bat first, the MI Emirates got off to a promising start, but faltered in the middle overs.
Kieron Pollard made history in an International League T20 (ILT20) 2025 encounter between MI Emirates and Desert Vipers on January 16 at the Dubai International Stadium. After the Vipers won the toss and elected to bowl first, Pollard was instrumental in guiding the reigning champions to a strong total of 159 runs.
Kieron Pollard showed off his skills with a quick innings of 36 runs off 23 balls, including two boundaries and three sixes, after skipper Nicholas Pooran was dismissed in the 13th over. Notably, he reached his 900-six milestone in T20 cricket with his second six of the day, which came off Lockie Ferguson’s opening delivery in the 19th over. Only Chris Gayle has accomplished this feat before Pollard, making him a member of an elite group.
However, a late flourish from Kieron Pollard (36 off 23) and Romario Shepherd’s blistering 16 off 6 balls helped them post a competitive total of 159/6 . In response, the Vipers seized control in the powerplay, thanks to an effective opening partnership between Alex Hales and Fakhar Zaman.
Fakhar Zaman’s stellar 67 guides Desert Vipers to thrilling win over MI Emirates
Desert Vipers were off to a flying start with the bat as Fakhar Zaman (67:52b, 5×4, 4×6) and Alex Hales (34:22b, 4×6) put bowlers under pressure right from the start, adding 62 runs for the opening wicket. But, after that, Vipers lost three quick wickets and found themselves at 71 for three.
In response, the Desert Vipers’ openers, Hales and Fakhar Zaman, provided a solid foundation with a 51-run partnership. Despite losing a few wickets, Fakhar Zaman remained steadfast, striking four sixes and three fours en route to his half-century. Fakhar Zaman’s 65-run stand with Curran shifted the momentum in the Vipers’ favour . Although Fakhar Zaman fell in the 17th over, Sherfane Rutherford’s cameo of 21 off 8 balls sealed the victory for the Desert Vipers.
It was then that Sam Curran joined Fakhar Zaman, and the duo counter-attacked in style. The Fakhar Zaman-Curran duo added 65 runs and both were back in the hut in quick succession. Sherfane Rutherford (21 not out:8b, 3×4, 1×6) then made sure he finished the job for his team as Vipers completed a five-wicket win.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Lockie Ferguson the winning Desert Vipers skipper said : Feels great to beat a very strong Emirates side, nice to get over the line. Really nice today, Payne came in, it shows the depth in the squad, different guys are standing up at different times. Fakhar was superb, Dan (Lawrence) did well with the ball as well.
We were not sure about the par score, but we felt dew was settling at the back-end of their innings and we were confident. Salamkheil bowled nicely, but Fakhar played him well and took him out of the game. Credit to Sam (Curran) as well for his knock.
Nicholas Pooran the losing Mumbai Emirates skipper said : I felt we were in the game, we were happy with 160, the way the pitch was playing, it seemed to be very tricky. It’s still young in the tournament, Mousley got us two wickets, we went searching for another, but we didn’t get it.
Credit to Fakhar Zaman and Sam Curran, they played really well, we will have to look back at a few things, need to be consistent with the bat, take wickets in the PP and we should be fine going forward. Just surprised with his appetite (on Pollard’s 900th six in T20s tonight)
Fakhar Zaman Player of the Match for his 67 runs said : I think the fast bowlers were easy, but we were struggling against spinners. We just planned to play out their overs and take the game deep. It was just because of the way the bowler was bowling, the leg-side boundary was big, so I was looking for runs on the shorter boundary.
It was very good, he’s such a talented player (on Sam Curran), made things easy for me. Even though I was settled, credit goes to the way he’s been playing in this tournament, it was amazing. The team and the management enjoy our cricket, not too worried about the results, just want to play some good cricket.
Fakhar Zaman’s calculated 67-run knock, supported by Sam Curran’s pivotal partnership, turned the tide in favor of the Vipers. Sherfane Rutherford’s rapid 21 helped fulfill the chase, sealing the victory with six balls to spare. The MI Emirates’ early innings flurry led by Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera faltered despite Pollard’s explosive contribution in the closing overs.
A strong chase and the Vipers have now made it three out of three matches. They’re looking strong and they’re looking like the team to beat this season. The openers added 62 runs for the first wicket and laid the foundation, but they then lost 3 for 9 off 19 balls to let MI Emirates back into the contest. Dan Mousley and Waqar Salamkheil bowled beautifully in that middle-over phase to keep their team in the hunt.
But Fakhar Zaman held his poise, took some time and then ironically started DV’s revival with a 16-run over off Salamkheil. Mousley conceded 16 more in the next over and Fazalhaq conceded 13 in the 16th. Those three overs effectively broke the chase as Fakhar Zaman went past his fifty, he fell for 67, Sam Curran, the silent partner in the partnership, fell for 28, but Sherfane Rutherford ensured that the chase was done clinically. MIE were good in parts, but they didn’t make most of the slowness of the surface and eventually paid the penalty.
Three wins out of three for the Vipers and they’re looking strong .ILT20 now moves across to Sharjah for the first time tomorrow this season as the third venue of the event.