Sikandar Raza‘s heroic 60 off 45 balls, which featured five boundaries and two sixes, along with a last-ball six, gave the Dubai Capitals a thrilling five-wicket victory. Raza was crucial to his team’s victory both during the fantastic run chase and early in the game with his economical bowling spell.
Toss Update and Pitch Report
Batsmen and bowlers alike can benefit from Dubai International Stadium. Fast bowlers are great at first because of their bounce and swing, but eventually batters take over. In the middle overs, scoring is easier, although the pitch might be favorable for spinners. The Dubai Capitals won the toss and chose to bowl since chasing teams are more beneficial.
The openers got off the Vipers to a flying start
Earlier, the fifth-place Vipers were facing the bottom-placed Capitals, who chose to bowl first after winning the toss. By going for their shots, openers Phili Salt and Alex Hales gave the inning an excellent start. Hales amassed 26 runs in the second over by hitting Richard Ngarava for three sixes and two boundaries.
Hales scored 40 of their partnership’s 50 runs in just 3.1 overs. Roelof van der Merwe ended the partnership at 66 runs in the fifth over, forcing Salt to reverse sweep him for 26 runs to Ngarava at short third man. Hales blasted his sixth six and two boundaries en route to reaching his half century in 25 balls. The Vipers crossed the 100-run mark at the end of the 8th over.
Before becoming Van van Merwe’s second victim, caught by Rahul Chopra at long off for 15, Dan Lawrence made up 34 runs stand for the second wicket alongside Hales. Colin Munro, the captain, was bowled out for six runs by Olly Stone when he delivered a ball that passed through the bat-pad gap. The Vipers were at 107/3 at the halfway point.
Sikandar Raza kept things tight in the middle overs
After the quick couple of wickets, the vipers were looking to settle down, but Hales’s excellent knock was likewise ended by Stone, who forced him to attempt a pull shot but ultimately sent the ball to Ngarava at short fine leg. The likelihood of a huge score was diminished by quick wickets.
In addition to strangling the run flow, Sikandar Raza trapped Adam Hose’s leg before for seven. Haider also trapped Sam Curran leg before. During 38 balls, there were no boundaries scored. With 20 runs in the game, Michael Jones sliced Scott Kuggeleijn to Shanaka at point to put the Vipers up to a formidable total.
With the introduction of spin, the Dubai Capitals made significant strides and opened the door for the other bowlers to claim wickets. Sikanadar Raza bowled an economical spell of (4-0-16-1), while two bowlers who stood out were Olly Stone and Roelof van der Merwe, who both claimed two wickets.
PC: ESPNcricinfo
The Capitals started sluggish as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals
Chasing a target of 172 runs, Tom Banton and Max Holden’s first combination lasted just 16 runs. Adam Hose made a fantastic leaping take of Holden from Sam Curran at covers for eight runs. Ben Dunk was also clean-bowled when a delivery smashed the top of his off stump for one run.
The Capitals were in trouble when Banton pulled Ali Naseer to Daniel Lawrence at deep square leg for 15. The Capitals needed 111 more runs at the halfway point.
PC: ESPNcricinfo
Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza put up a match-winning partnership
Billings took just 29 balls to reach his 50. Sikandar Raza gave him very good assistance. To put an end to the partnership that was growing out of control, Matheesha Pathirana trapped Billings leg before hitting him with a yorker in the 15th over.
With only 29 runs needed from the final 18 balls, Dasun Shanaka and Sikandar Raza brought the target closer. In 38 balls, Sikandar Raza achieved his half-century mark. Sam Curran clean-bowled Shanaka for 10 runs, ending the Sikandar Raza-Shanaka partnership of 40 runs in 23 balls.
With 13 runs needed from the last over, UAE’s 19-year-old medium pacer Ali Naseer bowled a courageous over, but Raza smashed him over long for six runs on the very last ball. Sikandar Raza’s all-round heroics keep the Capitals alive in the playoff race.
PC: ESPNcricinfo
Also Read: ILT20 2024: Gulf Giants Secure Hard-Fought Victory Over MI Emirates