ILT20 2025: Gulbadin Naib leads Dubai Capitals to emphatic victory over Desert Vipers



Dubai Capitals triumph Desert Vipers by six wickets in a gripping contest at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, securing a well-deserved victory in Match 13 of the International T20 League 2025. The Capitals easily achieved a modest target of 140, thanks to a stellar performance from Gulbadin Naib, who was named player of the match for his outstanding all-round contribution.

Desert Vipers finish at 139

After electing to bowl first, the Capitals bowlers made an immediate impact, restricting the Desert Vipers to a below-average total of 139. The Vipers struggled to establish partnerships as wickets fell at regular intervals .

Alex Hales top-scored with 34 runs from 31 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. Sherfane Rutherford contributed a valuable 27 off 24, including a four and three sixes, while Dan Lawrence chipped in with 24 runs. However, the rest of the batting line-up failed to capitalize, with Sam Curran, Azam Khan and Tanish Suri unable to make significant contributions.

The Capitals bowlers delivered a disciplined performance. Zahir Khan and Dushmantha Chameera stood out, taking three wickets each. Zahir Khan, although slightly expensive, broke key partnerships, while Chameera’s late strikes concluded the innings effectively. Haider Ali, Obed McCoy, Sikandar Raza and Gulbadin Naib contributed with a wicket each to keep the pressure on the Vipers.

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Gulbadin Naib brings Dubai Capitals home

The Capitals began their chase shaky, losing early wickets as Ben Dunk, Shai Hope and Khalid Shah departed cheaply. At 42/3, the chase looked precarious, but Gulbadin Naib anchored the innings with a scintillating shot.

Naib smashed 78 off 51 balls, with three towering fours and five sixes, displaying both composure and aggression. His partnership with Raza, who contributed 24 off 26, stabilized the innings and took the match away from the Vipers. Najibullah Zadran finished calmly with 10 points out of 10. The Capitals reached the finish line in 17.4 overs with 6 wickets in hand.

For the Vipers, Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets for 29 runs in his four overs. Mohammad Amir bowled with precision, taking one wicket for 31 runs in 3.4 overs. Despite their efforts, the total proved too low to defend.

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