Desert Vipers won the International League T20 by 46 runs.

Desert Vipers won the International League T20 by 46 runs and Desert Vipers are the new ILT20 champions

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium stood witness to a historic night as the Desert Vipers outclassed the MI Emirates by 46 runs to lift the International League T20 (ILT20) Season 4 trophy. In a high-stakes encounter where experience met clinical execution, the Vipers proved why they have been the team to beat this season. Led by the tactical brilliance of Sam Curran, the Vipers dominated from the outset, leaving the MI Emirates—the T20 giants—struggling to keep up with the pace.

Vipers Set a Formidable Target

After being asked to bat first, the Desert Vipers faced an early challenge as their star opener from the Qualifiers, Andries Gous, was sidelined due to a late injury. However, the depth of the Vipers’ roster came to the fore. Fakhar Zaman and Jason Roy provided a cautious yet steady start, putting on 34 runs before the explosive Roy fell to Fazalhaq Farooqi.

The momentum shifted significantly when Sam Curran promoted himself up the order. Curran played a captain’s knock, scoring a magnificent 74 off 51 balls*. His innings was a masterclass in calculated aggression; he targeted the shorter boundaries and manipulated the field with precision. Supported by Max Holden, who chipped in with a vital 41 off 32 balls, the duo stitched together a crucial 84-run partnership for the third wicket.

Despite a double-strike by Farooqi in the powerplay, the Vipers recovered to post a challenging total of 182/4. The final flourish came from Dan Lawrence, whose quick-fire 23 helped the Vipers cross the 180-run mark, a total that historically favors the team batting first in Dubai finals.

MI Emirates‘ Batting Collapse

Chasing 183 for glory, MI Emirates needed a “flying start.” UAE star Muhammad Waseem looked dangerous initially, smashing 26 off just 13 deliveries, including three massive sixes. However, his departure in the fourth over triggered a collapse that the Emirates could never truly recover from.

The Vipers’ bowling attack, led by the discipline of David Payne and the pace of Naseem Shah, squeezed the life out of the middle order. Shakib Al Hasan tried to anchor the innings with 36 runs, but the required run rate quickly climbed above 12 runs per over. The most surprising turn of the match was the struggle of Kieron Pollard. Usually a finisher par excellence, Pollard found it difficult to time the ball against the variations of Usman Tariq, eventually crawling to 28 off 28 balls.

As the pressure mounted, wickets fell in a heap. The lower order, including Romario Shepherd and Allah Ghazanfar, failed to provide any resistance. The MI Emirates were eventually bundled out for 136 in 18.3 overs, falling short by 46 runs.

Key Performance Summary

Player of the Match: Sam Curran (74* runs and clinical leadership).
Top Bowler (Vipers): David Payne (3/42) and Khuzaima Tanveer (2/22).
Turning Point: The 12th over bowled by Usman Tariq, where he conceded only 4 runs and built immense pressure on the set batters.