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- ‘Tournaments are not won at the start, they are won at the end,’ says Hales
DUBAI: Despite a fine innings by Alex Hales, the Desert Vipers fell to a third defeat in four games, as the Sharjah Warriors beat them by seven runs in Sharjah on Sunday night.
After winning the toss, the Desert Vipers chose to field, and despite some big hitting by the Warriors’ batters, managed to restrict them to 174 for seven. Luke Wood and Wanindu Hasaranga took three wickets apiece, with Hasaranga’s three coming in a single over, while Shaheen Afridi was effective as well, and finished with one for 34.
Hales took on the opposition in style as he scored 61 off just 40, while Azam Khan contributed a quickfire 35 off 22 to give the Vipers a real chance of getting to the target. But when Azam was run out in the 18th over with 27 still required, it left too much for the remaining batters to do.
“It was a very good pitch and there was every chance they (Sharjah Warriors) could have got over 200,” said Hales. “I thought we fought back well with the ball to rescue the momentum at the halfway stage. Unfortunately, we kept losing wickets (when we batted), that was the thing that cost us. We never really got a big partnership going. It was disappointing.
“I felt in good touch today. It has not really happened (for me) at the start of the tournament, but now is the time for us to start winning. Tournaments are not won at the start, they are won at the end. So hopefully we can find some form and hopefully I can as well. I felt in good touch over the last month without getting too many big scores, so hopefully this is the start.
“I think we need to bat a little bit better and we need to find some partnerships, that has been missing so far in the first four games. We need a little rhythm with the bat and guys in form and hopefully we can find some form and build some momentum.”
Meanwhile, the Desert Vipers’ bowler Wood told the Vipers Voices podcast that despite some decent bowling, the team lacked consistency.
“When we bowled well, we took wickets in clusters, but there were dry patches where they (Sharjah Warriors) managed to get some partnerships. I think it is difficult, but we could have been better with the ball.
“I felt when we bowled it (the ball) did not grip as much (in the surface), and bounced a bit more, whereas when they bowled it kept low and was harder to score.
“If you look at our side, we are all very capable, but somehow we have come together as a full team, performance-wise, but I am confident we can pull it back.
“We have got quality players the whole way down the list,” he added. “I think Shadab (Khan) was batting at eight (today), and judging by that it only takes one or two people to take the game away from them. If (Alex) Hales had carried on for 20 or 30 runs, that is the game won.”
The Desert Vipers are back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 30 when they take on MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium.