LONDON: Sikandar Raza hit a last-ball six in his battling unbeaten 60 off 45 balls to lift Dubai Capitals to a thrilling five-wicket win over the Desert Vipers on Friday.
Raza orchestrated his team’s victory through a fourth-wicket, 79-run partnership in 54 balls with Sam Billings, and a 40-run, fifth-wicket partnership in 23 balls with Dasun Shanaka.
With 13 runs needed off the last over, UAE's 19-year-old medium pacer Ali Naseer bowled a brave over, but when six runs were needed off the last ball Raza hit him over long on.
Vipers had posted a challenging 171 for the loss of seven wickets through Alex Hales' 66 off 37 balls, but Raza had other ideas.
Raza, who has bagged 11 man-of-the-match awards in T20s, the most by any player in the world, described his last-ball six by saying: “I said to myself, I don't think he will go short as I had hit one earlier out of the ground. I will hold my shape and try and hit it in the air and hit it as well as I can.”
Speaking about his opponent at the other end, Ali Naseer, Raza continued: “He bowled really well; these are things we have learnt all through our careers. For a 19-year-old to bowl the final over, it was fantastic, and he nearly won it for them. It could've gone either way; but sorry we needed that win tonight, the first thing that comes is the faith that keeps me going.”
Sam Billings, after hailing Raza’s knock said: “He has shown his true character and skill. I told him that one shot can get him back, we just had to hang in there and the spinners did a fantastic job, and they changed the game. We needed to win tonight and we can deal with tomorrow. Very proud of the efforts.”
Colin Munro, Vipers captain, said: “They bowled exceptionally well, but we lost wickets in clumps which never helps. The top two played well but unfortunately we did not kick on. Credit to Ali Naseer, he bowled really well, he will be in those situations a lot of times in the future. Good for us for next year as well.”
