Vipers eke out Giants in Super Over

The Desert Vipers beat the Gulf Giants in a thriller in Dubai, coming out on top in the Super Over after scores for both teams were tied on 179. The win sees the Vipers remain as the only unbeaten team left in the ILT20, with three wins from their first three games. Pathum Nissanka's third consecutive fifty of the tournament and Azmatullah Omarzai's four-wicket haul went in vain for the Giants.

Chasing 180, the Vipers needed 13 runs off the last over. Khuzaima Tanveer smashed the first ball for six but was dismissed by Omarzai. Vriitya Aravind and Naseem Shah got it down to 3 off 1, and the latter was run-out, taking the game to the first-ever Super Over in ILT20 history.

In the Super Over, the Vipers scored 13 runs. Dan Lawrence smashed a six before falling on the last delivery. Naseem Shah began the Giants' reply with a no-ball, followed by two wides. Moeen Ali missed the free-hit and struggled with timing. Tom Moores needed a six off the final ball to win but managed only a single, leaving the Giants with nine runs.

Earlier, the Vipers' innings began poorly at 14 for 2, recovering to 35 for 2 by the end of the PowerPlay. Sam Curran, reprieved by a no-ball and a drop, capitalized with aggressive hitting. Lawrence and Curran revived the chase with 15-run overs in the 13th to 15th, but Curran holed out with 58 needed off 30. Shimron Hetmyer's hitting brought the equation to 39 off 18. Lawrence reached fifty, but Omarzai dismissed both him and Hetmyer in the same over. Hasan Nawaz hit a six and a four before falling, setting up the dramatic final over.

In the first innings, Pathum Nissanka continued his form with a third consecutive fifty, racing to 49 off 26 balls by the PowerPlay. After his dismissal, the run rate slowed until Rahmanullah Gurbaz broke free with two sixes and a four in the 13th over. Gurbaz (40) and James Vince (25) fell in the same over to Tanveer. Late hitting from Azmatullah Omarzai and Tom Moores lifted the Giants to 179 for 5.

Brief Scores:
Gulf Giants 179/5 (Pathum Nissanka 56, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 40; Khuzaima Tanveer 2-22) tied with Desert Vipers 179/9 in 20 overs (Dan Lawrence 56, Sam Curran 44; Azmatullah Omarzai 4-32) – Desert Vipers won the Super Over.