Gulbadin Naib stole the show with a match-winning 62 off 39 balls and a crucial two-wicket haul, guiding DC to a five-wicket win as they chased down 189 in a high-pressure encounter. Chasing 190 runs, Gulbadin Naib played a match-winning knock of 62 off just 39 balls for the Capitals. After some drama in the final over, Sikandar Raza scored a boundary off the final ball to seal a thrilling victory for Dubai Capitals.
In a dramatic qualifier 1 contest, Dubai Capitals beat Desert Vipers by 5 wickets to qualify for the finals of the ILT20 2025 season. In a pulsating ILT20 Qualifier 1, Dubai Capitals (DC) held their nerve to pull off a sensational last-ball victory against Desert Vipers (DV) at the Dubai International Stadium. The victory not only secured DC’s place in the ILT20 Final but also extended their dominance over DV with five consecutive wins against them.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : There is no grass on the deck. It is very bare. The spinners despite the deck being dry haven’t come into play as they have given away runs as well. Even 150 can be enough at times during playoffs but on this wicket 170-175 might well be needed.
Toss : Dubai Capitals skipper Sam Billings won the toss and chose to bowl with same team from the previous game as David Warner still misses out from the playing XI. Desert Vipers skipper Lockie Fergusson made two changes in the playing XI as Mohammad Amir is in as well as Rahmanullah Gurbaz making his debut for the Vipers.
Alex Hales , Daniel Lawrence and Sam Curran powers Desert Vipers to 189 for 7 in 20 overs
For Qualifier 1, Desert Vipers batted first with new opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz. However, the explosive opener failed to get dismissed for 1 run as Farhan Khan drew first blood for the Capitals. Nonetheless, Alex Hales and Max Holden had an inspiring 98-run partnership for the second wicket with Hales slamming 67 off 32 balls. Holden also hammered 36 off 26 balls as Vipers had 100 runs on the board in 8 overs.
Batting first, DV got off to a flying start, thanks to a blistering 67 off 32 balls by Alex Hales, who combined with Max Holden (36 off 26) for a 98-run partnership. The duo punished DC’s bowlers early on, taking DV to 64/1 in the powerplay. Hales was in top form, smashing seven fours and three sixes, bringing up his ninth ILT20 fifty in just 28 balls. However, DC’s bowlers fought back in the middle overs, with Qais Ahmad (2/29) and Gulbadin Naib (2/25) leading the charge.
Alex Hales and Holden set the platform for a huge total for Desert Vipers. Daniel Lawrence and Sam Curran also contributed with 35 and 24 runs respectively to power Vipers to a strong total of 189 runs. On the other hand, for Capitals. Obed McCoy turned out to be expensive as he conceded 45 runs in his four overs.
As the innings progressed, Dan Lawrence (35 off 27) and Sam Curran (24 off 21) tried to accelerate, but DV struggled to maintain their early momentum. A late cameo from Khuzaima Tanveer (15 off 5) helped DV post 189/7 in 20 overs.
Gulbadin Naib Stars In Dramatic Victory As Capitals Barge Into The Finals of ILT20 2025
Chasing a daunting target, DC began cautiously, reaching 47/0 in the powerplay. Adam Rossington (44 off 31) looked in good touch, taking on Sam Curran in the fifth over. However, the run rate pressure began to mount, and Shai Hope (17 off 17) was dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga in the seventh over. Rossington fell soon after, cleaned up by Lockie Ferguson (2/32), leaving DC at 67/2 in 10 overs.
Dubai Capitals saw a 51-run opening partnership between Adam Rossington and Shai Hope. Adam scored 44 off 31 balls while Hope could muster only 17 runs. Gulbadin Naib and Sam Curran stitched another strong 40-run partnership for the third wicket with Capitals surpassing 100 runs in less than 13 overs. However, the tables turned when Billing got run out.
That’s when Gulbadin Naib and Sam Billings (38 off 16) took control. Billings played an explosive knock, taking Hasaranga apart with three fours and a six in one over. However, a mix-up led to his unfortunate run-out, shifting the pressure back onto DC .With 52 needed off the last 30 balls, Gulbadin Naib took charge, finding boundaries at crucial moments. Rovman Powell (20 off 11) chipped in, but fell to David Payne in the 18th over
Billings was run out after a brilliant fielding effort by Sam Curran, who threw the ball from the deep. Hasaranga smartly collected it at the bowler’s end and quickly threw it to the keeper, Gurbaz, who whipped off the bails. Billings fell short after scoring a fiery 38 off 16 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes.
While Sam Billings’ run out unsettled the Capitals, Gulbadin Naib held his end of the crease to keep the required run rate under control. He hit a sublime half-century and reduced the equation to 12 runs off the final over.
Gulbadin Naib hit a timely boundary on the third ball to ease the pressure. He took a couple of doubles before getting dramatically dismissed by Lockie Ferguson on the penultimate ball. However, in the process, Ferguson picked up a hamstring strain with Mohammad Amir tasked to bowl the final ball.
That being said, the new batter, Sikandar Raza made no mistake and hit a boundary to secure a dramatic victory. He steered Dubai Capitals to the finals of the ILT20 2025 season.
With 12 runs required in the final over, Naib picked up six runs off the first two balls before being dropped by Dhruv Parashar. However, he perished on the very next delivery with the scores tied. The match was set up for a thrilling finish, and Sikandar Raza stepped up, smashing a boundary off the last ball to seal the victory for DC.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Sam Billings winning skipper of DC said : Someone had to take on Hasaranga. I will be honest, we were disappointing with the ball. Tonight we were off. Hales got off to a flier. Was slightly above par. But dew came in and few things went our way at the end. We can play a lot better than what we did today.
Different people have stepped up at different times. We have couple of days off. Gives extra time for Davey to get alright. Would be a boost if we have him back. Naib has played beautifully tonight. Naib bowled some tough overs as well.
Lockie Ferguson losing skipper of DV said : Little hamstring. That’s how it goes. I wish I could have. Was a great game of cricket. Little bit of dew came in. Small moments make the difference. Have to go back to the drawing board. It is never in T20 cricket. Hales showed his class. Was impressive to see him batting like that.
Gulbadin Naib Player of the Match for his all round show 62 runs and 2 wickets said : When you played a good game in past, you remind yourself of that. I got reminded of the previous fifties I got. I took some time at the start. I can play any position. Number 3 now is my lucky number. I have opened as well. I can bat anywhere. We played a lot of cricket here at Dubai. It was a pressure game and I love pressure games. I used the surface. I used my variations a lot.
Raza has managed to send the Capitals into some delirium. They were nervous. 1 off 1 and a Super Over might have been played. But Raza stayed deep in his crease, flogged it and got it over the infield. The Capitals got an iffy start. Hope fell without scoring too many. Rossington seemed to have an extended date with lady luck but fell for 44 after surviving umpteen chances.
Billings played a blinder before running himself out and it was left to Gulbadin Naib to see them through. Gulbadin Naib did play a superb knock but was out off the second last ball with the scores tied. Ferguson who was bowling the final over had to go out before bowling the final ball as he got his hamstring pulled.
Amir took on the responsibility but was never going to be easy. The Vipers would be ruing the missed chances. At least 5 chances went down on the field. One of them happened in the last over as well. In a game of small margins, the Vipers gave away acres of space to the opponents and paid the price for it.
It was like a thriller which you had you at the edge of the seat till the very end. Capitals have become the first team to enter the finals. They had the wood over the Vipers coming into this game having won the previous two encounters and the trot continued. Gulbadin Naib was a thorn in the eyes again.
But the Vipers did the basics wrong and some costly drops meant the final result was irrevocable. But they still have one more shot left. The winner of the Emirates and Warriorz game will play the Vipers in Qualifier 2. And if they get through that, they would want law of averages to catch up!
While DC march into the ILT20 Final, DV will get another shot at qualification. They will face the winner of MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz in Qualifier 2 for a place in the Final. Can DV bounce back and set up a rematch with DC in the Final Or will another team step up to challenge the Capitals The ILT20 action is far from over.