Match Center

Right then, we are done with the league stage of the ILT20, 2025 and the four playoff spots are locked in. The two teams that played against each other this evening, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers have qualified as the top two teams and will play in Qualifier 1, with the winner going straight to the final and the loser will get a second opportunity later on. The Qualifier 1 game will be played in Dubai on Wednesday, 5 February and will begin at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT) but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

Qais Ahmad is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his four-fer. He starts by praising the almighty and all of his family members for supporting him. Adds that when you are playing with big names like Sam Billings, they instill confidence in him and he likes that. Adds that the wicket was pretty good for spin and tried to turn it as much as possible. Ends by saying that he enjoyed the wicket of Sam Curran as he is a big player.

Dubai Capitals skipper, Sam Billings says that it was a clinical performance and that's what they wanted and he is very pleased with it. Adds that wrist spin is a bit of a cheat code and crucial to every side and Sharjah can be a graveyard for spinners but Qais Ahmad bowled really well and good to see him go for the aggression options again and again. Adds that they respect what the Vipers have done so far and they do take a lot of confidence but the next match is a new game and conditions will be different. Ends by saying that they've had a couple of really clinical performances and hopes that long may it continue.

Lockie Ferguson, the captain of Desert Vipers says that these things happen but backs the boys regardless and applauds the opposition and just wants to go back to the drawing board. Reckons that they need to build partnerships up top and they have been fantastic overall in the tournament.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Sam Billings asked Desert Vipers to bat first and after a couple of early blows courtesy of Obed McCoy, the Vipers started to fire with the bat. Dan Lawrence and Sam Curran stitched together 45 runs before Curran fell and then they went from 101/3 to 137 all out in the 20th over. Qais Ahmad was the wrecker-in-chief in the middle phase with 4 wickets to his name as McCoy closed out with 3 wickets as well. In reply, it was a walk in the park for the Capitals thanks to fifties from Shai Hope and Gulbadin Naib.

Desert Vipers have now lost 2 of their last 3 games which is double of what they had lost in the 7 earlier games and have also lost against Dubai Capitals for a fourth time in a row, which puts them in a tricky position leading up to that Qualifier 1. They had a torrid time with the bat in that middle phase and simply lost the plot and with the ball as well, they didn't put up much of a fight. A few dropped catches only made things worse and the Vipers will have to go back to the drawing board and make immediate adjustments if they are to seal a place in the final.

Well, the bowlers had set things up wonderfully for Dubai Capitals and needing 138 for the win always looked like a fairly comfortable job given the batting talent the Capitals had. No David Warner tonight but Adam Rossington came in as the impact player and started aggressively and got his side to a quick start with 27 off 18 balls. After that, the most consistent batter of the competition, Shai Hope stitched together a stand with Gulbadin Naib and the duo went on to score twin half-centuries in an unbeaten stand of 96 runs which sealed the deal for the Capitals.

What a win for Dubai Capitals and what a second half of the season they are having! From fighting to stay afloat in the playoffs race to now finishing 2nd on the points table, they have become the in-form side in the competition and will be the team to look out for in the knokcouts.

That's it, it's all done! Dubai Capitals with an emphatic win and they have sealed a top-two finish as well. Pitched-up delivery around off, driven off the inner half of the blade in front of mid on for a quick single by Shai Hope and the Capitals win by 9 wickets!

Another slower one around off, just nudged off the back foot in front of point for a single. Scores are now level!

Slower one, bowled on a short length and over leg, Hop[e miscues the pull towards mid-wicket.

Back of a length and around off, punched away from the crease but straight to covers.

FOUR! Yet another FIFTY for Shai Hope and he is seriously giving Tom Banton a run for his money, his fourth half-century this season. Quick and short over leg, Hope just pulls it away down to fine leg and picks up a boundary and has now actually gone past Banton to become the leading run-scorer this season.

Beaten! Slower one, bowled full and angled across off, Hope looks to drive it through covers but is completely beaten.

Just back of a length over off and middle, holding in the deck, Hope presses back to defend.

Strategic break! Well then, more of a breather than a strategic break this as Dubai Capitals just need 6 runs off the next 4 overs to seal another clash against Desert Vipers in Qualifier 1. The Vipers simply haven't looked to be getting out of 2nd gear all evening and are losing some crucial ground at the wrong time of the competition.