DV VS DC T20S

Right then, another game is done and dusted in the ILT20, 2024 and the race for the playoffs is really heating up. Up next is a double-header on Saturday, 10 February where in the first game we will see a clash between Gulf Giants and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on this very ground at 4 pm IST (10.30 am GMT) and the winner will seal a top-two finish. This will be followed by a game between Dubai Capitals and table-toppers MI Emirates in Abu Dhabi beginning at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT) and you can catch our build-up to both those games a lot sooner. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Sikandar Raza is the Player of the Match for his match-winning performance. He says that he didn't have any particular place to hit it and he thought to stand in his crease and analyzed all the options. Mentions that Ali Naseer bowled fantastically and these alll things will build his character and says that is takes immense courage. Adds that faith comes first for him and he isn't a guy who shies away from working hard and says that he doesn't worry about results too much and hopes that the rest will fall in place.

Sam Billings, the captain of Dubai Capitals says that there's nothing you can do and Sikandar Raza showed true character and he knew one shot would get him going when he was struggling for form in the middle. Adds that when one batter is struggling a bit, it is up to the other guy to take some risks and hence he tried to be a bit more aggressive and you need to exert pressure back on once the required rate goes beyond 10. Mentions that the boys didn't bowl badly in the Powerplay and it was just great batting from the opposition but the way they pulled things back was amazing.

The skipper of Desert Vipers, Colin Munro is up for a chat. He says that they lost their way while batting and credits the openers for giving them a great start. He then appreciates Ali Naseer as well for bowling brilliantly and showing what a class all-rounder he is. Mentions that he instructed him and told him to bowl his best balls. Adds that in their last game, they will give it their all and will try and get over this one.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the innings, we saw that the Desert Vipers started off aggressively with the bat and put the Capitals under pressure straight away. However, with the introduction of spin, Dubai Capitals got important breakthroughs and paved the way for the other bowlers to find wickets. The Capitals managed to restrict the batters to a low score going into the innings break. Phil Salt and Alex Hales were the pick of the batters for Desert Vipers with the latter scoring big runs while Olly Stone and Roelof van der Merwe stood out amongst the bowlers.

Desert Vipers will be kicking themselves as they finished well short of what they should have got with the bat and then they let go of the perfect start with the ball as well. Mohammad Amir and Sam Curran were pretty solid up top and then the likes of Matheesha Pathirana and Ali Naseer also followed it up. However, they did lack a world-class spinner and although Nathan Sowter kept things quiet, he couldn't get any wickets. Amir and Curran were poor at the death by their lofty standards whereas Pathirana bowled really well. Naseer did extremely well but just couldn't keep his nerve on the final delivery which cost them the match and now even if they win their last game, it will be very hard for them to get into the top four.

Just like with the ball, Dubai Capitals had a poor Powerplay with the bat as well and lost 3 wickets in just over 5 overs. At that stage, this chase seemed all over however, the new skipper, Sam Billings had other intentions. He not only turned his poor run of form around but also the game with some magnificent hitting and Sikandar Raza just hung around, hardly getting anything out of the middle of the bat. Billings got to 50 and then got out and there was still quite a bit left to do. Raza then out of nowhere started to find the middle of the bat with regularity and ended the game in the most remarkable way possible to keep the Capitals alive in the playoff race.

Sikandar Raza, you beauty! What a finisher he has become in recent times and to hit a six off the final ball when nothing less than that will get you the win, is the sweetest feeling there is in cricket. Spare a thought for young Ali Naseer though who bowled a near perfect final over but it was just one slower ball too many in the end and Desert Vipers are on the brink of being dumped out of the competition whereas Dubai Capitals now have a new leash on life.

SIX! UNBELIEVABLE! ARE YOU SERIOUS Sikandar Raza! Ali Naseer bowls it on a length and around off. Sikandar Raza stands back and muscles it over mid off. The ball sails down the ground and long off watches it sail over his head all the way past the fence for a maximum. Sikandar Raza is a hero tonight in Dubai and Ali Naseer did everything right until the last ball. What a youngster!

WOW! Slow and on a length outside off. Sikandar Raza dances down the ground and swings his blade. He is beaten for lack of pace. What a comeback! One biggie required of one ball.

Full and on the pads. Sikandar Raza lifts it up towards deep square leg and will run a couple. 6 required of 2 deliveries.

Full and on off. Scott Kuggeleijn drills it to long off for a single. Sikandar Raza to be on strike now. Ali Naseer is holding himself very well.

Short and over middle. Scott Kuggeleijn goes for the big shot but gets beaten for pace. Nerves!

FOUR! STREAKY! Ali Naseer goes on a length and outside off. Scott Kuggeleijn throws his bat at it and the ball flies off wide of the keeper off the edge. The ball runs away to the fence for four runs. Lucky Edge!

Ali Naseer to bowl the final over. Can the inexperienced pacer defend 12 runs and become a hero for his side?

Full and outside off. Scott Kuggeleijn drives it to covers and runs a single.

A low full toss on off. Sikandar Raza slaps it to long on and runs a single.