one ball is all it takes! Thank you very much, says Sherfane Rutherford and the Vipers go 3-0! A drag-down on leg stump and Rutherford will have that for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sits deep in his crease and mauls it a mile over deep sqaure leg. The Vipers win with five balls to spare and establish a bit of daylight between themselves and the rest of the pack!
MI Emirates vs Vipers, 7th Match at Dubai, ILT20, Jan 16 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
7th Match (N), Dubai (DICS), January 16, 2025, International League T20
159/6
(19.1/20 ov, T:160) 161/5
Vipers won by 5 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
New
DV
Full commentary
10:10pm That will be all from us for this game. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and we hope to have your company tomorrow for more ILT20 action. Until then, this is me, Shashwat, signing off on behalf of Binoy and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!
Fakhar Zaman, Player of the Match: The fast bowlers were easy but we were struggling to face the spinners. We were planning to play them out and take it deep. It was just because of the bowler. He was bowling really well and you can see the leg-side boundary was big. I was not going there and looking for the runs (to the other side) and wanted to hit to the shorter boundary. (On the Curran partnership) It was very good. He is such a talented player. He was making it easy for me. Even though I was set, the way he batted, he made it easy for him and credit goes to him. The way he is playing in this tournament has been amazing. (On if there were nerves towards the end) To be honest, no. The management and our team, they just enjoy cricket. They never talk about winning or losing, they just want to play good cricket and we are trying to do that.
Lockie Ferguson, Desert Vipers captain: Very strong Emirates side, nice to get over the line. Payne came in, shows the depth in the squad. He bowled very well. Collectively, different guys standing up in different games. Fakhar batted really well, Lawrence with the ball (was our go-to). Not sure what a par score is. As I was bowling, felt the dew was making the ball skid on, backed the guys to chase it down. Salamkheil bowled really nicely. The way (Fakhar) played him, shows the experience we had with him and Sammy. Hopefully he (Curran) continues with that form.
Nicholas Pooran, MI Emirates captain: (On the score) Felt like we were in the game. We were happy with 160, thought the wicket was slow enough. Dew came in and made it challenging (in the end). We felt like we had a chance when we got two wickets there. We just needed one more wicket but couldn't get it. Credit to them, they (Curran and Fakhar) absorbed the pressure, got two big overs. It is okay, we learn and today was another opportunity to see what is required. We know what we need to be better. (On where they need to improve) Batting. The three phases of the game, we have to be more consistent and get more wickets in the powerplay (as well). (On Pollard) He has been hitting sixes since he started playing. Not a surprise, just happy for him.
10:02pm There were a few hiccups but the Vipers got the job done in the end. Fakhar was the protagonist for most of it and even though he took his time early on, he injected impetus into the innings just when it was needed. Curran played his part too, as did Hales at the start and Rutherford towards the end. And if anyone says the Vipers are the team to beat at this year's competition, their assessment might not be a million miles away.
MI Emirates, on the other hand, fought as hard as they could. Zahoor was the most successful of their bowlers, with Mousley and Salamkheil, barring their respective last overs, also turning the screw. The bare fact, however, was that they did not have enough runs in the bank and ultimately ran out of elbow room.
19.1
6
Ghazanfar to Rutherford, SIX runs
Five needed off the last over. MI Emirates will have to bowl a spinner, unless they turn to Pollard. Looks like Ghazanfar has been tasked with bowling the 20th. Vipers favourites, but crazier things have happened in the final over of games. Around the wicket. Here we go!
end of over 198 runs • 1 wicket
DV: 155/5CRR: 8.15 • RRR: 5.00 • Need 5 runs from 6b
Sherfane Rutherford15 (7b 3x4)
Wanindu Hasaranga2 (2b)
Zahoor Khan 3-0-24-2
Fazalhaq Farooqi 4-0-40-0
18.6
1
Zahoor to Rutherford, 1 run
low full toss on off. Rutherford works it towards deep mid wicket and is happy to keep strike
6 off 7. The Vipers might breathe much easier now
18.5
4
Zahoor to Rutherford, FOUR runs
what a shot under pressure! Almost the perfect wide yorker but Rutherford's shot is just too good. He waits on it and opens his bat face at the last moment to steer it to short third's right!
18.4
1
Zahoor to Hasaranga, 1 run
very full on leg stump. Hasaranga cannot get under it and digs it out towards long on. Just another single
11 off 9. Things getting a little tight...
18.3
1
Zahoor to Rutherford, 1 run
into the blockhole outside off. Rutherford clinks it out into the off side and scurries across to the other end
18.2
1
Zahoor to Hasaranga, 1 run
low full toss slanted into leg stump. Hasaranga opens up his stance and drives it to long on to get off the mark
Hasaranga is the new batter in. 13 off 11
18.1
W
Zahoor to Sam Curran, OUT
Curran bites the dust, and Zahoor has another! Full outside off and Curran thinks he can smash this downtown. The ball, though, is just full enough to disallow him from getting under it completely. Shanks it straight to Pollard, and MI Emirates keep on fighting!
Sam Curran c Pollard b Zahoor Khan 28 (23b 1x4 1x6) SR: 121.73
13 off 12. Very much the Vipers' game to lose from here
end of over 1811 runs
DV: 147/4CRR: 8.16 • RRR: 6.50 • Need 13 runs from 12b
Sherfane Rutherford9 (4b 2x4)
Sam Curran28 (22b 1x4 1x6)
Fazalhaq Farooqi 4-0-40-0
Zahoor Khan 2-0-16-1
17.6
•
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Rutherford, no run
angled in fuller on the pads. Rutherford swings at it and misses and the ball trickles off his pads towards short fine leg
17.5
4
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Rutherford, FOUR runs
four more! Rutherford is in a hurry! Slow, short, wide and this is just begging to be hit. Rutherford holds his stroke until the very end and then knifes it between backward point and short third!
17.4
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Sam Curran, 1 run
off-pace and into the track outside off. Curran stands up on his toes and punches it to long on
17.3
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Rutherford, 1 run
safe! Short ball on leg stump and this gets big on Rutherford. He miscues his pull and fortunately for him, the ball lands in front of fine leg
17.2
4
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Rutherford, FOUR runs
off the mark in style! Farooqi looks for the off-stump yorker but ends up bowling a half-volley. Rutherford gets his hands through the ball and crunches it between extra cover and mid off!
17.1
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Sam Curran, 1 run
very full outside off. Curran squeezes it past extra cover, who dives and nearly parries it past the fielder coming in from sweeper cover
Farooqi now. Rutherford at the non-striker's end. Curran on strike. 24 needed off 18
end of over 175 runs • 1 wicket
DV: 136/4CRR: 8.00 • RRR: 8.00 • Need 24 runs from 18b
Sam Curran26 (20b 1x4 1x6)
Zahoor Khan 2-0-16-1
Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-0-29-0
16.6
W
Zahoor to Zaman, OUT
Zahoor knocks over Fakhar Zaman! And the MI Emirates are still alive! Zipped in full on off. Fakhar gets his front foot out of the way and swings at it with all his might. Perhaps aims too square and misses the ball completely. Sees his off stump flattened moments later and Fakhar walks back for a well-made 67!
Fakhar Zaman b Zahoor Khan 67 (52b 5x4 4x6) SR: 128.84
Five singles so far from the over
16.5
1
Zahoor to Sam Curran, 1 run
full toss outside off. Curran tries to hit it too hard and scuffs it towards sweeper cover
16.4
1
Zahoor to Zaman, 1 run
shortish outside off. Fakhar waits for it and glides it towards deep backward point
16.3
1
Zahoor to Sam Curran, 1 run
full outside off. Curran goes through the line and chips it on the bounce to long off
16.2
1
Zahoor to Zaman, 1 run
slower ball on a length outside off. Fakhar wants to sweep this away but the lack of pace means the ball dribbles off the toe-end into the on side
16.1
1
Zahoor to Sam Curran, 1 run
full and wide outside off. Curran sits deep in his crease and drills it towards sweeper cover
29 off 24. Zahoor to bowl. Can he break this partnership? Around the wicket to Curran
end of over 1613 runs
DV: 131/3CRR: 8.18 • RRR: 7.25 • Need 29 runs from 24b
Sam Curran23 (17b 1x4 1x6)
Fakhar Zaman65 (49b 5x4 4x6)
Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-0-29-0
Dan Mousley 4-0-27-2
15.6
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Sam Curran, 1 run
back of a length on the stumps. Curran stabs it towards extra cover and gallops across to the other end
Language
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Win Probability
DV 100%
MIEDV100%50%100%
Over 20 • DV 161/5
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