By Himadullah Sohoo 
In a heart-stopping finish, the Desert Vipers snatched a two-wicket victory over MI Emirates in the 15th match of the DP World ILT20 season 2. The match swung like a pendulum till the final ball, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Vipers’ Bowling Dominates Early:
MI Emirates, batting first, struggled against the tight bowling of Mohammad Amir (3-26), Luke Wood (2-32), and Matheesha Pathirana (2-32). Their innings were anchored by Ambati Rayudu (23) and Akeal Hosein (24), but Tim David’s late cameo (28 off 14) pushed the score to a respectable 149/9.
Vipers’ Chase Starts Rough:
Chasing the target, Vipers’ openers fell early, leaving them reeling at 28/4. However, Azam Khan (20) and Wanindu Hasaranga (26) provided some hope with a 34-run partnership.
Rutherford’s Late Heroics:
The turning point came with Sherfane Rutherford’s quickfire 35 runs, including 17 off Boult’s 17th over. With 17 needed off the last 12 balls, Shaheen Afridi (17* off 5) and Luke Wood (6* off 2) held their nerve, stealing the win with a thrilling run on the final ball.
Amir Reflects on Teamwork:
Player of the Match, Mohammad Amir, praised the team effort: “It was an interesting game. We bowled in partnership, and Shaheen and I shared our experience. Happy I did something for the team.”
Munro Happy with Win, Wants Smarter Play:
Winning captain Colin Munro acknowledged the team’s mistakes: “There were a couple of rash shots, but I can’t fault the intent. We gotta be a little bit smarter.”
Pooran Disappointed but Optimistic:
Losing skipper Nicholas Pooran rued the missed opportunities: “We felt we were 10-15 runs short. We’ll rebuild. It just wasn’t enough today.”
This thrilling victory keeps the Desert Vipers in the hunt for the playoffs, while MI Emirates faces a setback in their title defense.
Brief scores:
MI Emirates 149 for 9 in 20 overs (Ambati Rayudu 23, Akeal Hosein 24, Tim David 28, Mohammad Amir 3 for 26, Luke Wood 2 for 32, Matheesha Pathirana 2 for 32) Desert Vipers 150 for 8 in 20 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 26, Azam Khan 20, Sherfane Rutherford 35, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2 for 23, Muhammad Rohid 3 for 21, Dwayne Bravo 2 for 30)
Result: Desert Vipers beat MI Emirates by 2 wickets
Player of the Match: Mohammad Amir
Zainab Shafiq