ABU DHABI: The Desert Vipers finally met their match on Tuesday night as the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders handed the DP World International League T20 table-toppers their first loss of the season at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
The thrilling one-run victory was set up by Liam Livingstone’s knock of 76 runs before the Knight Riders’ bowling attack held their nerve to defend their total of 181/5.
A crucial opening stand between Fakhar Zaman (44 off 32) and Max Holden (52 off 43) kept the Vipers in the fray for a long time, but potent spells from Andre Russell (2/16), Ajay Kumar (2/47) and Jason Holder (1/28) ensured a narrow victory.
In response to a daunting target, Fakhar Zaman and Max Holden (52 off 43) steered the Vipers through an impactful powerplay of 53/0.
The pair rotated the strike with ease and found timely boundaries even after the fielding restrictions as Max Holden brought up a 40-ball half-century. Holden struck six boundaries on his way there.
The Vipers were at a canter until Andre Russell got the vital breakthrough, removing Holden in the 12th over. With only one boundary since the 11th over, the mounting pressure saw Andre Russell strike again to remove Zaman at 114/2 in 14 overs. Sunil Narine was also instrumental in turning up the pressure, conceding only 23 runs in his four overs.
Hasan Nawaz broke the drought with two consecutive sixes off Ajay Kumar in the 16th over but holed out on the next delivery. Sam Curran (11 off 10) and Shimron Hetmyer (7 off 4) also perished in quick succession to leave the equation at 19 runs needed in 12 balls.
A cameo from Khuzaima Tanveer (16 off 9) almost brought the Vipers home, but his knock came to an end in the final over as Ajay Kumar defended the 12 runs needed.
Batting first, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders stumbled out of the blocks, slumping to 9/2 inside two overs. Khuzaima Tanveer struck on the opening delivery, claiming Phil Salt as his 11th victim of the season, before Lockie Ferguson trapped Michael Pepper (4 off 3) LBW to leave the Knight Riders reeling. Alex Hales (25 off 18) counterattacked inside the powerplay with two fours and two sixes but fell to Ferguson in the fifth over as the Knight Riders finished the powerplay at 48/3.
Liam Livingstone (76 off 48) and UAE’s Alishan Sharafu (39 off 35) endured a difficult phase, steadying the ship with a 50-run stand in 46 balls. Just as the pair looked to step on the accelerator, Sharafu fell to Sam Curran in search of his fourth six of the night.
The Knight Riders recovered well to pass the 15-over mark at 112/4, and Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford (24* off 14) ensured the side plundered another 69 runs in the final five overs. Livingstone launched Qais Ahmad for two successive sixes to bring up a 36-ball fifty and finished the night with six fours and three sixes to his name.
Rutherford took down Noor Ahmad in a 19-run over before Livingstone became Ferguson’s third scalp of the night in the final over. The partnership of 68 runs in 30 balls propelled the Knight Riders to 181/5.
Player of the match, Liam Livingstone said: “It was very much needed for us tonight. Today was a very important game for us so I am glad we could get the win. Pretty happy with the way I paced the innings, getting 25 off 25 and then pressing on the gas accelerator. Most pleasing thing is being able to get a score and contribute.”
Reflecting on the loss, captain of the Desert Vipers, Lockie Ferguson said: “It is not a great result, obviously, but it was a great game of cricket. The boys will obviously be hurting, but we’ll take the dividends from tonight.”
Brief Scores
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat Desert Vipers by one run:
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 181/5 in 20 overs (Liam Livingstone 76, Alishan Sharafu 39, Sherfane Rutherford 24 not out, Lockie Ferguson 3 for 34)
Desert Vipers 180/6 in 20 overs (Max Holden 52, Fakhar Zaman 44, Hasan Nawaz 23, Andre Russell 2 for 16, Ajay Kumar 2 for 47, Jason Holder 1 for 28)
