wide down the leg side, and DC win by six wickets! Amir bowled this on a length, and a stump or so outside leg. Naib looked to clip but missed, and DC got the run they needed
Vipers vs DC, 13th Match at Dubai, ILT20, Jan 20 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
DC won by 6 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)
DC move up two spots in the points table, while DV suffer their first loss this season. The competition is on at the ILT20, as we get close to the halfway mark of the round-robin stage. But that's it from us tonight, as this is Himanshu signing off on behalf of Binoy. Good night, and take care!
Gulbadin Naib is the Player of the Match: "We were at the bottom [of the table], so we were looking for momentum. It's still a long way to go. It's not easy facing these kind of quality bowlers. Luckily, I gave time to myself. After the drinks break, the staff said, 'You're looking good'. I said [to Sikandar], 'Let me do what's my strength'. I said, 'Sorry, mate' [to Hope, because of the run-out]."
Sikandar Raza, DC captain: "We never doubted ourselves at any given point. Last year, we made it to the final and at one point, lost three in a row. Very proud of our fielding and our attitude. We thought the wicket was a lot more tacky and green today. I thought there was a little bit of moisture. We used the heavy roller to make it flat. We've been trying that [to have Naib at No. 4]. But there are so many power-hitters in the side. I thought we caught a lot better today!"
Lockie Ferguson, DV captain: "Tough one. Probably a few runs short. Had some chances. They bowled well, and it spun. Quick turnaround again. The boys have been batting beautifully. Can't give away my secrets [regarding stopping in his run-up]."
Time for the presentations
Zubair Islam: "DC finally gets out of bottom slot" --- Indeed, they are now at No. 4
9.51pm Gulbadin Naib was dropped on 2. That was the third over of the chase, and DC had already lost two wickets. Eventually, Naib ended unbeaten on 78, and took DC to victory after three losses in a row. But on the way, DC found themselves at 42 for 3, and were rescued by Naib, who cracked five sixes in the region from long-on and deep square leg, and Raza, who scored a patient 24. DV would have backed Hasaranga to be their trump card, but his four overs were seen off rather smoothly. Anyway, DV lose their first in five matches, and DC's climb up the points table keeps the others wary. Hang around for the presentations.
short ball on leg, and pulled away. Short fine leg does well to tumble to his right and stop a run
Only one more needed...
over backward point, and four! That came off the outside half of the bat, but that is four nevertheless. He reached out for this length ball slanting away and finishing wide of off, and got some luck going his way
extra bounce, and wide called for height. Short ball from Amir on middle, and Naib swayed out of the way to let it go
short of a length, and slightly wide of off. Punched towards extra cover
slower ball, and a short delivery arriving around fourth stump. Swat-pulled to long-on
Amir back
Only another eight runs needed. Maybe the last over of the day?
short ball around middle and off, and pulled to deep midwicket
short in length, and again just outside off. Jabbed to deep third
nearly a yorker around off, and dragged to long-on
bashed over wide long-on! I have lost count of the number of sixes he has it there today. On the shorter side of a length around fifth stump, and he crashed that for six
very full, and just outside off. He gets his front leg out of the way and drives, but gets an inside edge to deep-backward square leg
short of a length on top of off, and dabbed towards point
Ferguson back. Around the stumps to Zadran.
Time-out
short in length on leg, and turns in to his pad, as he skips down and looks to clip
fullish on off, and pushed towards cover for a single
angling across on a full length on middle and off, and blocked down
shortish length, and clipped towards deep midwicket
Naib resumes the big-hitting! The ball goes through Rutherford's hands at deep midwicket. Sowter tossed it up, and landed it on the shorter side of a length, as Naib dispatched that with a slog sweep
short in length, and drifting across to arrive just outside off. He looks to cut, but gets a bottom edge past the off stump
Sowter replaces Hasaranga
change of pace, and on a short of a length around middle and off. Clipped to Amir's right
on a length, and angling away towards off. Punched to cover
Over 18 • DC 140/4
DC won by 6 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)