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US cricket team advances to second round in Twenty20 World Cup debut at Pakistan’s expense

US cricket team advances to second round in Twenty20 World Cup debut at Pakistan’s expense
Fans of the United States cricket team cheer at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Lauderhill. (AP)
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Updated 15 June 2024
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US cricket team advances to second round in Twenty20 World Cup debut at Pakistan’s expense

US cricket team advances to second round in Twenty20 World Cup debut at Pakistan’s expense
Updated 15 June 2024
AP
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LAUDERHILL, Florida: The United States cricket team made more history by reaching the second round in its Twenty20 World Cup debut after its last group game against Ireland was washed out on Friday.
Rain meant the match at Broward County Stadium was abandoned without a ball bowled, advancing the Americans to the Super Eight stage and automatically qualifying them for the 2026 Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
The US qualified for this T20 World Cup only as a co-host with the West Indies, but it has used home advantage to make a stunning first impression in its first major cricket tournament.
While the Americans progressed alongside unbeaten India from Group A, former champion Pakistan and winless Ireland were eliminated from Super Eight contention.
Pakistan won the title in 2009 and reached two more finals, including at the last T20 World Cup in 2022. Pakistan has failed to get out of the group stage for the first time. Ireland was expected to be a threat, too. The Irish also reached the second round on debut in 2009 and repeated in 2022.
The competition point from the washout was enough for the US to advance after beating Canada in Texas and stunning Pakistan in Texas during the first week.
Tying Pakistan in regular overs then beating it in a super over was one of the greatest upsets in the tournament’s history.
The Americans were thumped by India, one of the title favorites, as expected on Wednesday but the hosts’ progression without being able to play on Friday was still well deserved.
The umpires made four inspections of the wet outfield before heavy rain arrived at around 1:30 p.m. local time and the match was called off three hours after its scheduled start.
The 17th-ranked US joined the West Indies, India, Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan in the Super Eight, with two more teams yet to qualify. The Super Eight starting on Wednesday splits into two groups, with each team guaranteed three games to try and reach the semifinals.
Nepal wins toss
At Kingstown, St. Vincent, Nepal won the toss and chose to bowl in its later match against Group D leaders South Africa, the first international match between the teams.
South Africa already has qualified for the Super Eight stage after winning its first three matches against the Netherlands, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. South Africa’s first match in the Super Eight playoffs is next Wednesday against the US in Antigua.
Nepal lost to the Netherlands in its opening match and its second match against Sri Lanka was rained out, meaning this will be its first game in 10 days. It is also the first match at the tournament to be played in St. Vincent.
Nepal captain Rauhit Praudel said he elected to bowl first to take advantage of easier batting conditions in the second innings. Proteas captain Aiden Markram said he would have chosen to bat first.
For the first time at the tournament, Nepal has been able to select its leading player Sandeep Lamichhane. Lamichhane was convicted of rape in January and sentenced to eight years in jail. But his conviction was overturned in May by the Nepal High Court.
His application for a visa to travel with the Nepal squad to the United States was rejected. But he has been able to join the team in St. Vincent, bringing the Nepal squad up to its full complement of 15 players in the Caribbean.
New Zealand bowls first
At Tarouba, Trinidad, New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl in a Group C match against Uganda. The West Indies and Bangladesh already have taken the two Super Eight qualifying spots available from the group.
New Zealand lost its first two matches at the tournament to Bangladesh and the West Indies and can no longer qualify. It sits at the bottom of the group behind Uganda which has two points from a win over Papua New Guinea.
New Zealand’s failure at this tournament ends a run of success at white ball World Cups. It has reached at least the semifinals of the last six white-ball world tournaments over the last decade.

Topics: t20 world cup 2024

Kohli, Rohit near endgame as India chase Champions Trophy glory

Kohli, Rohit near endgame as India chase Champions Trophy glory
Updated 18 February 2025
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Kohli, Rohit near endgame as India chase Champions Trophy glory

Kohli, Rohit near endgame as India chase Champions Trophy glory
  • Age is clearly catching up with the duo ahead of India’s first match of the 50-over Champions Trophy, against Bangladesh on Thursday in Dubai
  • Despite intense conjecture about their futures India head coach Gautam Gambhir said the two stalwarts will have “massive roles” to play at the Champions Trophy
Updated 18 February 2025
AFP

DUBAI: India captain Rohit Sharma and superstar batsman Virat Kohli enter the Champions Trophy this week with intense focus on their dwindling powers and speculation over when they will retire.

The 37-year-old Rohit and Kohli, 36, got back among the runs to some degree in India’s 3-0 ODI home sweep of England last week.

But both have been mired in long lean patches in Tests and have already retired from T20 cricket following last year’s World Cup triumph.

Age is clearly catching up with the duo ahead of India’s first match of the 50-over Champions Trophy, against Bangladesh on Thursday in Dubai.

Neither player — both mainstays of a formidable India team for more than 15 years — has said what their plans are.

But one Indian media report, citing anonymous sources at the cricket board, said opener Rohit had been pressed to make a decision on his future by the time the tournament ends.

Rohit’s Test career already looks over, the skipper having “rested” for the decisive, final Test against Australia.

“Hopefully they know when the right time to play is,” India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev said.

“When they think it is not, they will call it off.”

Following the bruising 3-1 Test defeat in Australia, India’s board ordered contracted players to play domestic cricket.

But both flopped, with Rohit scoring three and 28 in his first and second innings for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and Kohli scoring six off 15 balls for Delhi.

If the idea was to help them play their way back into form, it did not work.

Despite intense conjecture about their futures India head coach Gautam Gambhir said the two stalwarts will have “massive roles” to play at the Champions Trophy.

India, who will play their games in Dubai after refusing to visit neighbors and hosts Pakistan, are favorites to win the title for a third time.

Rohit came into the England ODIs with just 31 runs in three matches in the Australia Test series defeat.

He scored two in the first ODI against England before rolling back the years in the second with a 90-ball 119.

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar was skeptical that Rohit could push on from there.

“He wanted a big hundred and he finally got it,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

“Whether he can hit a few more... we will have to wait. I am not confident.”

Rohit then got out for one in the final match against England.

It was in that match that Kohli finally came good with his 52 — his 73rd half-century in 297 ODIs.

Kohli started tentatively before finding his groove in Ahmedabad to finish with seven fours and one six in his 55-ball innings.

No matter what happens at the Champions Trophy, the expectation in India is that Kohli will continue to play Test cricket.

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen warned India against discarding the duo prematurely.

“You can’t write these guys off because of the aura they have when they walk out to bat,” said Pietersen in his role as a television pundit.

Pietersen said that Kohli in particular had earned the right to go out on his own terms.

“The question mark doesn’t come down to me, you, the selectors, the coaches, and the other players,” he said.

“Virat Kohli can only answer the question in terms of how long he wants to continue and how much fight he has to get better and to create those high standards that everybody expects from him.”

All set for Champions Trophy start after India-Pakistan row, boycott calls

All set for Champions Trophy start after India-Pakistan row, boycott calls
Updated 17 February 2025
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All set for Champions Trophy start after India-Pakistan row, boycott calls

All set for Champions Trophy start after India-Pakistan row, boycott calls
  • Arch-rivals India and Pakistan, who only face off in international competitions because of the politics, clash in Dubai on Feb. 23 in the group phase
  • India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh form Group A while Australia, England, Afghanistan and South Africa are in Group B
Updated 17 February 2025
AFP

KARACHI: The Champions Trophy begins Wednesday after a turbulent buildup that saw the tournament split between Pakistan and Dubai, and with England facing calls to boycott their match against Afghanistan.

The event, regarded as second only to the World Cup in the one-day game, runs until March 9 and is the first global cricket tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly three decades.

India’s matches will however be played in the UAE after the sport’s financial superpower refused to visit their neighbor over long-standing political tensions.

A month-long impasse ended in December when the International Cricket Council said that India would play their games in Dubai.

It raises the prospect of the final of the eight-nation showpiece taking place there, rather than in Pakistan, if India get that far — a good chance given they are favorites to lift the trophy.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan, who only face off in international competitions because of the politics, clash in Dubai on Feb. 23 in the group phase.

England play Afghanistan three days later in Lahore in a match that has been met with a backlash in some quarters in Britain.

More than 160 British politicians called for a boycott in response to the Taliban government’s ban on women in sport.

England Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson vowed the match would go ahead, saying a “coordinated international response” by the cricket community would achieve more than unilateral action.

The Champions Trophy will be Pakistan’s first ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.

Karachi and Rawalpindi are the other Pakistani cities that will stage games.

Pakistan became a no-go area for foreign teams after the visiting Sri Lankan squad were attacked by gunmen in 2009, leaving eight people dead and wounding several touring players.

But with improved security across most of the country, international cricket returned to Pakistan in 2020.

India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh form Group A while Australia, England, Afghanistan and South Africa are in Group B.

Two teams from each group qualify for the semifinals in Dubai and Lahore.

Pakistan are reigning champions, having defeated India in the final in 2017 at The Oval in London.

But it is two-time winners India who are favorites, with superstar batsman Virat Kohli hoping to overcome a poor run of form by his sky-high standards.

It could be the 36-year-old’s last hurrah on the international stage, with captain Rohit Sharma also likely to retire after the tournament.

“India is playing superb all-round cricket and so are among the favorites for the Champions Trophy,” former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar told AFP.

“The other teams, in my opinion, to watch out for are defending champions Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa.”

India will however be missing ace pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

Australia beat hosts India to win the one-day World Cup in 2023 but they are missing several key players.

Their formidable pace attack of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are all out.

Coupled with the sudden retirement from ODIs of Marcus Stoinis and injury to Mitchell Marsh — both key all-rounders — and Australia suddenly look vulnerable.

They were well beaten 2-0 in Sri Lanka in a two-match series last week. Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan will open the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy with a match against New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday.

The co-hosts are unpredictable, as they showed in the last edition of the tournament, losing to India by 124 runs in the opening match before winning the final against them by 180 runs.

England go into the competition under a cloud, having been outclassed by India in both a T20 and one-day series in the leadup.

With quality spinners led by Rashid Khan, Afghanistan are dangerous.

They shocked England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the 2023 ODI World Cup and reached the semifinals of the Twenty20 World Cup last year.

Topics: Cricket India Pakistan

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Sale of The Hundred hits the jackpot

Sale of The Hundred hits the jackpot
Updated 13 February 2025
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Sale of The Hundred hits the jackpot

Sale of The Hundred hits the jackpot
  • Rancor over The Hundred concept mitigated as 8 clubs paid eye-watering sums by investors for stakes in the tournament
Updated 13 February 2025
Jon Pike

It feels like the end of the beginning for The Hundred. Eye-watering sums were paid between Feb. 6 and 12 for shares in the eight “franchises” that constitute the tournament.

There is no denying that it has been a divisive and polarizing concept. However, in what has been described as the Indian Premier League moment for cricket in England and Wales, there is partial closure on this rancor because of the amount of money that has been raised. The next concern is how it will be spent by the beneficiaries.

In first place are the seven County Cricket Clubs, plus the Marylebone Cricket Club, which hold the franchises, the so-called hosts. It has always been something of a misnomer to term them franchisees since the tournament has been owned by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The ECB footed the start-up costs, a significant part of which were payments of £1.3 million ($1.6 million) per year to the 18 counties to secure the necessary two-thirds majority. Eleven of them are non-hosting and were not in favor of The Hundred because it provided them no benefit. The funding, termed a dividend, overcame objections.

In 2024, the counties supported the ECB in its wish to open up The Hundred to private investment. Eight new companies were to be created, with the ECB gifting each one 51 percent of its equity, which the holders can either keep, sell partially or wholly. The balance of 49 percent retained by the ECB would be offered to the market. This process is now complete.

First to be sold was the Oval Invincibles at Surrey, where the Reliance Group paid £60 million for the ECB’s 49 percent stake. Reliance is led by Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, who counts the Mumbai Indians, MI Emirates, MI Cape Town and MI New York within his franchise portfolio. Surrey CCC will retain its 51 percent share.

Similarly, Warwickshire CCC retained its 51 percent share in Birmingham Phoenix, with the ECB’s 49 percent share bought by the American owners of Birmingham City Football Club, Knighthead Capital, for £40 million. This may not please supporters of Aston Villa, the rival soccer club in the city.

Then, the ECB’s 49 percent share in the Welsh Fire was bought by IT entrepreneur Sanjay Govil, founder and chairman of Infinite Computer Solutions, for £40 million, with Glamorgan CCC retaining its 51 percent share.

These sums were eclipsed by the £145 million which was paid by a Silicon Valley consortium for 49 percent of the Lord’s-based London Spirit. It is believed that this stake was the subject of intense bidding between interested parties, including Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Group. The attraction of this prestige stake lies in the access that it provides to Lord’s and its owners, the MCC.

Nikesh Arora, CEO of the security firm, Palo Alto Networks, led the consortium, called Cricket Investor Networks Ltd. It is believed to comprise “11 high net-worth individuals,” who profess a shared love of cricket. Amongst them are Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft; Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google; Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe; Egon Durban, CEO of Silver Lake Management; and Satyan Gajwani, vice-chairman of Times Internet. He is also co-founder of Major League Cricket in the US and co-owner of the Seattle Orcas team.

Any disappointment experienced by Goenka in losing the battle for the stake in the London Spirit was put to one side, as it acquired a 70 percent stake in Lancashire CCC. The county became the first one to sell a part, 21 percent, of its share in the Manchester Originals. RPSG, owners of the IPL’s Lucknow Super Giants, agreed to pay around £81 million for the 70 percent stake.

Across the Pennines, Yorkshire CCC, Lancashire’s historic and greatest rivals, has well-publicized financial issues. It now has the opportunity to deal with them. The ECB’s 49 percent stake in the Leeds-based Northern Superchargers, plus Yorkshire’s 51 percent stake, has all been sold to Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Group, owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Eastern Cape for around £100 million.

A little further south, it was Nottingham-based Trent Rockets’ turn in the spotlight. This sale had originally been scheduled for Feb. 3 but was delayed as the ECB sought to keep investors, who had failed with earlier bids, involved in the process. This may have caused some nervousness in Nottingham CCC, as they watched potentially preferred bidders place their money elsewhere.

Ultimately, Cain International, which had bid for the London Spirit, topped the live auction on Feb. 11, acquiring the ECB’s 49 percent stake for around £40 million in competition with the owners of Kolkata Knight Riders and Indian investor Amit Jain, who was working with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The Cain Group is led by Chelsea FC director Jonathan Goldstein and backed by Chelsea’s co-owner Todd Boehly, who, in addition to Chelsea, has co-ownership of Strasbourg FC and the LA Dodgers baseball team. Nottingham Forest FC may feel uncomfortable seeing Chelsea parked on an adjacent lawn.

The final sale of the ECB’s equity focused on the Southern Brave team of Hampshire CCC. In late September 2024, the company that owns Hampshire CCC announced a takeover by the GMR Group, which co-owns the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, plus franchises in the UAE and South Africa. The £120 million deal was for the control of Hampshire CCC and its infrastructure. Plans to acquire the Brave would wait until the ECB’s sale process was revealed.

A key concern of the ECB was that its equity share should not be acquired by GMR at below-market value. Since that value would only emerge once bidding started, it made sense for the ECB to leave the Hampshire sale until last. On Feb. 12, it was reported that GMR had paid around £48 million for the ECB’s stake, paving the way for GMR to acquire total control of the Southern Brave. The value of Hampshire’s 51 percent share is unclear.

There is more clarity around the funds raised by the sale of the ECB’s equity. Based on data so far released, it appears that almost £500 million has been raised. This will be music to the ears of the second and third groups of potential beneficiaries, the 11 non-hosting counties and grassroots cricket.

Ninety percent of funds from the sale of the ECB’s 49 percent stake will go to the 18 counties and the MCC, with 10 percent going to the recreational game. Eighty percent of funds raised from sales of the 51 percent stakes go to the host county, with 10 percent split between the 18 counties and MCC and 10 percent going to the recreational game.

Over the next eight weeks, the four IPL and four non-IPL owners will finalize their agreements with the host counties. This is too late to have a significant impact on the 2025 season, regarded as a transitional one. No doubt, at the top of discussions, will be re-branding, attracting players, and their salaries, alongside the distribution of responsibilities between the hosts and the new investors.

Whilst not a new beginning, it seems clear that English and Welsh cricket will never be the same again.

Topics: Jon Pike Cricket Column Cricket

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The DP World ILT20 is maturing

The DP World ILT20 is maturing
Updated 12 February 2025
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The DP World ILT20 is maturing

The DP World ILT20 is maturing
  • As tournaments grow, historical performance begins to generate rivalries
Updated 12 February 2025
Jon Pike

LONDON: After much jostling for position between the eight teams in the round robin group stages of ILT20 2025, the two finalists which emerged were beaten finalists in the two previous years.

In 2023, the Desert Vipers were beaten by the Gulf Giants and in 2024 MI Emirates defeated the Dubai Capitals. Thus, it was guaranteed that 2025 would see first-time champions.

Although the Vipers had led the way in the group stage, the Capitals seemed to have a hold over them, having beaten them in both group stage matches. This ascendancy was confirmed when the Capitals triumphed off the last ball of the first qualifier to condemn the Vipers to the second qualifier and elevate the Capitals directly to the final.

The Vipers then reached the final via the second qualifier by beating the Sharjah Warriorz, who improved on their 2024 performance by some measure. 

As tournaments mature, historical performance begins to generate rivalries. The one between the Capitals and the Vipers has begun to do that. In the final, there was added piquancy in that both captains were English and both have played for England.

Sam Curran captained the Desert Vipers because the appointed captain, Lockie Ferguson, had suffered a hamstring injury toward the close of the first qualifying match against the Delhi Capitals. This ruled him out of the rest of the tournament.  

On the revolving circus that is franchise cricket, Sam Billings, the Capitals captain, had previously played with the Vipers in 2023. Who knows how much his release from them motivates him when pitted against his former team. This year, Billings joined the Vipers squad in time for the final two group stage matches after playing in the final of the Big Bash in Australia.

His impact seems to have been immediate and, confident as he is, he will play that down. Captaining and organizing a group of elite cricketers is a special skill and Billings honed this to perfection in this year’s tournament.

Each team, their captains and coaches talk of game plans. These are framed according to the squad’s own strengths and weaknesses relative to those of the opposition. After the final, Billings talked of being blown off the Capitals’ game plan by the loss of early wickets in pursuit of a target of 190. At 31 for three after 4.5 overs, the Capitals were in some trouble.

This situation looked to worsen for them at the beginning of the eighth over when Rovman Powell was given out stumped, following a smart piece of wicketkeeping by Azam Khan down the leg side. The score was 46 for four, but drama ensued.

As Powell trudged off the field, he was asked to wait while the third umpire checked the dismissal. There are moments in cricket which are arcane and quite difficult for the uninitiated to comprehend. What unfolded was one of those moments.

Law 27.3.1 states that “The wicketkeeper shall remain wholly behind the wicket at the striker’s end from the moment the ball comes into play until a ball delivered by the bowler touches the bat or person of the striker or passes the wicket at the striker’s end or the striker attempts a run.”

Law 27.3.2 then states that “In the event of the wicketkeeper contravening this law, the striker’s end umpire shall call and signal no-ball as soon as applicable after the delivery of the ball.”

After reviewing the action, the third umpire ruled that the wicketkeeper had not taken the ball with his hands fully behind the stumps. In this case it was millimeters of one, maybe, two fingers.   

Powell was reprieved, a no-ball was awarded and, to add insult to injury for the Vipers, Powell hit the next ball, which was a free hit, for six. He then went on to club 63 runs, setting the base for some brutal hitting in the final overs by Dasun Shanaka and Sikandar Raza.

Ultimately, their experience triumphed over some inexperienced bowling at the close of the innings. Billings referred to this in his post-match interview as a facet recognized in their game plan.

The stumping decision was the seminal moment in the match. It seemed harsh on Khan, who had reacted superbly to the ball as it passed the batter down the leg side, pouching it in his left hand, before breaking the stumps with the ball in both hands.

Spectators do not have the benefit of seeing the action in slow motion, multiple times, as did the third umpire, and can only defer to that superior position.

In this context it is ironic that, prior to the match, Simon Taufel, who leads the tournament’s panel of officials, made himself available to talk to members of the press. Taufel, widely regarded as one of the best umpires in the history of the sport, stood as an elite umpire between 2000 and 2012.

He stressed the high caliber of umpires on the ILT20 panel and the developmental work which it does to build local umpiring capacity. 

Top level professional cricket matches require not just two on-field umpires, but a third off-field umpire and a match referee. Throughout ILT20 2025, Taufel and the former Sri Lankan player Roshan Mahanama have acted as match referees.

He referred to their role as one of assessors. This necessitates a report on each official for each of the 34 matches played in the tournament.

The tournament had deployed two specialist TV umpires and Taufel was keen to point out that, up to that point in the tournament, the third umpire had not made a mistake. Furthermore, the on-field umpires had got 92 percent of decisions correct. The stumping incident arose to test those levels in the tournament’s pinnacle match.

In-match decisions by officials are the visible part of their jobs. Taufel emphasized the amount of training and preparation which goes on behind the scenes. He revealed that officials have coaches who push and support their development.

A part of his work and that of his panel is to raise the standards of officiating alongside those of the playing strength. This is in line with the objective of growing cricket in the UAE, not just for players but also the landscape for officials, both men and women.

The creation of pathways of opportunity means providing access to international standards. Local officials are given opportunities to shadow experienced international officials. An international coach was engaged for the first week of the tournament to develop local talent. Taufel said that he had been impressed by the passion and enthusiasm of this talent, their eagerness to learn and their aspirations to officiate on the international stage.

This developmental theme was echoed afterwards in a separate interview with David White, the CEO of the DP World ILT20. I asked him when he expects the startup status, which he has accorded the tournament in previous discussions, to develop into something more mature. His reply was to reveal that he thinks it has gone past that stage.

This view is based on heightened levels of competition between teams, much enhanced social media awareness, and attraction of world-class players and officials, coupled with clear evidence of developing local UAE talent.

Another criterion which will be used to judge this, once data becomes available, is audience viewing figures. Apparently, initial indications are of an upward trend. All of this bodes well for the tournament in the increasingly competitive world of franchise cricket.

Topics: Jon Pike Cricket Column

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Dubai Capitals clinch maiden DP World ILT20 title in thrilling final with Desert Vipers

Dubai Capitals clinch maiden DP World ILT20 title in thrilling final with Desert Vipers
Updated 09 February 2025
Arab News
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Dubai Capitals clinch maiden DP World ILT20 title in thrilling final with Desert Vipers

Dubai Capitals clinch maiden DP World ILT20 title in thrilling final with Desert Vipers
  • Dramatic victory comes in a final over after Capitals set challenging target of 189
  • Rovman Powell leads fightback before Sikandar Raza seals win with unbeaten 34 from 12 deliveries
Updated 09 February 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Dubai Capitals earned a dramatic four-wicket victory over Desert Vipers in the DP World ILT20 final on Sunday, securing their maiden championship title at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The triumph saw the Capitals claim the winner’s prize of $700,000, while the Desert Vipers, who finished as runners-up, will walk away with $300,000.

The triumph saw the Capitals claim the winner’s prize of $700,000. (Supplied)

Chasing a challenging target of 189, the Capitals endured early setbacks, but found stability through the performances of Rovman Powell, Shai Hope, and Sikandar Raza.

Powell led the fightback with a well-crafted 63 off 38 balls, while Hope’s composed 43 ensured the chase remained on track. However, it was Raza who delivered the decisive late burst, smashing an unbeaten 34 from just 12 deliveries to see his team over the line in the final over.

The Capitals’ pursuit began on a shaky note, with David Warner falling in the second over, followed by quick wickets from Mohammad Amir that reduced them to 39 for three at the end of the powerplay.

Hope and Powell then steadied the innings, forging an 80-run partnership that reignited the Capitals’ hopes.

While Hope played the anchor role, Powell’s aggressive strokeplay, including two towering sixes, shifted the momentum in their favor. The partnership was eventually broken in the 14th over when Sam Curran dismissed Hope, but Powell continued his charge, reaching his half-century off 30 balls.

With 65 runs needed from the final five overs, Powell and Dasun Shanaka found the boundary regularly to keep the Capitals in the contest.

Shanaka made a brisk 21 off nine deliveries before falling to David Payne, while Powell, who had earlier survived a stumping off a no-ball, eventually departed for 63 in the 18th over.

As tension mounted, it was Raza who took control, striking three boundaries off Amir in the penultimate over before sealing the win with a six and a four in the final over, ensuring the Capitals secured their sixth consecutive victory over the Vipers.

Earlier in the evening, the Desert Vipers posted a competitive total of 189 for five, thanks to an excellent knock from Max Holden, who top-scored with 76 off 51 balls.

After losing openers Alex Hales and Rahmanullah Gurbaz early, Holden took charge of the innings, guiding the Vipers to 53 for two at the end of the powerplay. He reached his half-century in the ninth over and continued his fluent strokeplay despite being dropped at long-off.

His efforts were supported by Curran, who struck an unbeaten 62 off just 28 balls, and Azam Khan, who provided late acceleration with a 13-ball 27. The final push saw the Vipers add 67 runs in the last five overs, setting what seemed a formidable target.

Reflecting on his match-winning innings, Powell expressed his delight at delivering on the big stage, acknowledging the belief within the Capitals’ camp.

“The message was to stay calm. The tournament was quiet for me, but I wanted to prove myself in the final. Big players step up on the big stage,” he said.

Meanwhile, Curran, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, praised his team despite the loss, saying: “It was an amazing game. It’s tough to take the loss, but I’m proud of the team. The Capitals had our number this season, but hopefully, we go one better next year.”

As the tournament concluded, individual excellence was also recognized, with Hope claiming the Green Belt for finishing as the highest run-scorer with 529 runs.

Fazalhaq Farooqi of MI Emirates was awarded the White Belt as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps in 11 innings.

Muhammad Waseem, also of MI Emirates, secured the Blue Belt as the best UAE player for a third consecutive season.

Topics: Cricket T20 cricket UAE DP World ILT20 Dubai Capitals Desert Vipers

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