By Anas Ahmed 
Fakhar Zaman delivered a scintillating performance, scoring 67 runs off 52 balls to lead the Desert Vipers to a commanding five-wicket victory over MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium. His effort, supported by Alex Hales and Sam Curran, helped the Vipers chase down a target of 160 with four balls to spare.
Fakhar Zaman’s Heroics: Zaman’s innings featured four sixes and five boundaries, forming a critical partnership with Sam Curran, who contributed 28 runs.
Alex Hales’ Quick Start: Hales scored a brisk 34 runs off 22 balls, giving the Vipers a solid foundation in the powerplay.
Sherfane Rutherford’s Finisher Role: Rutherford’s quickfire 21 runs off eight balls, including a match-winning six, sealed the win in the 19.1 overs.
Kieron Pollard and Romario Shepherd boosted MI Emirates’ total to 159/6, with Pollard scoring 36 runs and Shepherd smashing 16 runs in the final over.
Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera set the tone early, but MI Emirates struggled to maintain momentum in the middle overs.
Post-Match Insights
Player of the Match, Fakhar Zaman, commented on his approach:
“We planned to play out the spinners and target the shorter boundaries. The fast bowlers were easier to handle, which helped us keep up with the required run rate.”
Nicholas Pooran, MI Emirates skipper, reflected:
“We were content with our total of 160 on a tricky pitch. Mousley got us key breakthroughs, but credit to Fakhar Zaman and Sam Curran for their exceptional batting.”
Brief Scores
MI Emirates 159/6 in 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 36, Kusal Perera 33, Muhammad Waseem 18, Lockie Ferguson 2 for 23, Wanindu Hasaranga 1 for 21, Dan Lawrence 1 for 21)
Desert Vipers 161/5 in 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 67, Alex Hales 34, Sam Curran 28, Sherfane Rutherford 21 not out, Zahoor Khan 2 for 24, Dan Mousley 2 for 27, Waqar Salamkheil 1 for 29)
Player of the Match: Fakhar Zaman
Desert Vipers bt MI Emirates by five wickets
Zainab Shafiq