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DUBAI: Andries Gous’ gutsy 58 off 36 balls powered Desert Vipers to a victory over Dubai Capitals in the opening match of the International League T20 (ILT20) here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Tuesday.
Chasing 151, Vipers hit the winning runs on the last ball of the penultimate over, losing six wickets in the process.
Andries Gous and Fakhar Zaman started briskly in the chase, notching up a fifty-run partnership in only 4.4 overs.
Zaman, who remained the core aggressor, made 26 from 15 with the help of two sixes and a four.
The solid foundation helped the Vipers cruise towards the target; however, the Capitals made a comeback with quick wickets in the middle overs, halting their progress.
Max Holden was the second to go after adding 35 for the second wicket with Gous. The right-hander departed after scoring 16 off 15 with the help of two fours.
At this stage, Vipers were 85-2 in 9.4 overs.
Andries Gous held one end firm until Waqar Salamkheil removed him and skipper Sam Curran in the span of two deliveries.
Dubai Capitals struck again with the prized wickets of Shimron Hetmyer and Hasan Nawaz, left Desert Vipers reeling at 133-6 in 16.5 overs.
Yet, the Vipers cruised to a victory with Dan Lawrence and Khuzaima Tanveer stitching a brief 18* run partnership that took them over the line.
Lawrence made 19* from 16, whereas Tanveer struck a boundary in his 12 from eight balls.
For Dubai Capitals, Waqar Salamkheil and Scott Currie remained the standout bowlers, picking up two wickets each.
Earlier, after being put into the field first, Dubai Capitals managed to post 150-8 on the board in their allotted 20 overs.
Desert Vipers pacers piled a miserable start on Capitals as they lost four wickets in the first six overs.
Opener Sediqullah Atal was for 16 off 13, whereas Gulbadin Naib fell for a duck. Jordan Cox (2) and Shayan Jahangir (19 off 15) also fell in quick succession as the scorecard read 42-4 in 6.5 overs.
They were further pegged back in the 11th over when Noor Ahmed bowled David Willey as they slumped to 67-5.
However, Mohammad Nabi and Rovman Powell paired up down the order with a crucial 34-run stand that helped them reach a respectable total.
Powell top-scored with 39 off 22, striking four boundaries and two sixes, while Nabi hit two sixes and two fours in his 29 from 23 balls.
For Desert Vipers, Noor Ahmad, Khuzaima Tanveer, and David Payne picked up two wickets each.
