DUBAI: Sharjah Warriorz Development emerged as champions at the third edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament on Wednesday, defeating Desert Vipers Development by four runs in the final at the ICC Academy in Dubai.
After being bowled out for 134, the Warriorz snapped back with the ball, the Vipers collapsing in the middle overs and eventually falling just short despite a strong start to the chase.
Desert Vipers delivered a disciplined bowling performance to bowl out Sharjah Warriorz in 19.2 overs, with Sanjay Pahal (2-17), Khuzama Tanveer (2-20), Matiullah Khan (2-22), and Hafiz Almas Ayub (2-37) all chipping in.
For the Warriorz, Yassir Kaleem (33 off 27 balls) and Mohit Kalyan (30 off 23) top scored, but with wickets falling at regular intervals, the side failed to stitch together a meaningful partnership and were restricted to a total that appeared well short.
At the top of the order, the Vipers looked like they would make light work of their target. Openers Mayank (27 off 15) and Tanisha Suri (29 off 22) ensured their side had posted 56-1 by the end of the powerplay.
However, the innings then stumbled as the Warriorz bowlers fought back. Abdul Ghaffar (3-26) struck at the death, while Wasim Akram (2-19), Shahbaz Ali (2-26), and Umair Ali (2-30) chipped in with key breakthroughs. The Vipers lost six wickets between the sixth and 16th over for just 64 runs, including Sanjay Pahal (22 off 7), who had smashed two fours and two sixes and looked set to finish the chase.
From 15 runs needed in the last four overs, the equation came down to eight off the last over. Taimoor Ali (28 off 40), who had played a measured knock, fell in the penultimate over, before Abdul Ghaffar took two wickets in consecutive deliveries to bundle the Vipers out for 130 in 19.5 overs.
Desert Vipers Development’s Sanjay Pahal was named Player of the Tournament. The all-rounder scored 157 runs in seven matches at an impressive strike rate of 215, and finished as the fifth-highest wicket taker with 12 wickets.
Gulf Giants Development’s Jonathan Figgy emerged as the top scorer of the tournament with 273 runs to his name. He was closely followed by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ Sagar Kalyan, who registered 230 runs, and Warriorz’s Raees Ahmed with 227 runs.
Haider Razzaq emerged as the top wicket taker with 16 wickets for the Sharjah Warriorz, while Zahid Ali (Gulf Giants Development) and Hafiz Almas Ayub (Desert Vipers Development) finished just behind him with 15 each.
