Desert Vipers opened their ILT20 Season 4 campaign with a four-wicket win over Dubai Capitals at Dubai International Stadium on Monday night. The result ended a run of six defeats to the Capitals, including last season’s final.
Andries Gous anchored the chase with 58 from 36 balls, guiding the Vipers to 151 for six with an over to spare. His half-century followed a disciplined effort with the ball that held the defending champions to 150 for eight.
The Vipers’ attack shared the work evenly. Noor Ahmad, David Payne and UAE seamer Khuzaima Tanveer each took two wickets after the side chose to bowl first. The Capitals slipped to 32 for three inside the powerplay, with Naseem Shah, Sam Curran and Dan Lawrence striking early.
Rovman Powell lifted the innings with 39 off 22, hitting Tanveer for 18 in a single over, while Mohammad Nabi added 29 late on. But the Capitals never built a lasting partnership and lost both set batters in the closing overs.
Fakhar Zaman and Gous then set the tone for the chase with a brisk 50-run stand. Zaman hit two sixes before falling to Nabi in the fifth over. Gous kept the scoreboard moving, reaching his fifty in 32 balls before Waqar Salamkheil removed him and Sam Curran to give the Capitals a brief opening.
Scott Currie added late wickets, but Dan Lawrence (19 not out) and Tanveer (12 not out) finished the job calmly in the 19th over. It was the Vipers’ 21st win in the competition, the most by any side.
Gous said conditions eased as the innings went on:
“It was a bit slow up front, but it got better. Good to get that first fifty as we go deeper into the tournament.”
Capitals captain Dasun Shanaka said:
“We were not at the level we needed today. Par here is around 150 to 160. We need better plans next time.”
