Sam Curran, Naseem Shah take Desert Vipers to their first ILT20 title

Desert Vipers and MI Emirates locked horns for the ILT20 2025 title at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, January 4. The Emirates won the toss and elected to field first.

Fakhar Zaman and Jason Roy opened the innings for the Vipers as Emirates began with the left-arm spin of Shakib Al Hasan. The Pakistani deposited the second ball for six as the first over yielded 10 runs. AM Ghazanfar bowled a better over next, keeping the openers fairly quiet. But, Muhammad Rohid's first over opened the floodgates for the Vipers as his indisciplined bowling gave away 16 runs.

The Vipers received the momentum that they would have liked, but Fazalhaq Farooqi had other plans, dismissing Roy for 11(7) and Zaman for 20(15) in the same over leaving the opposition at 36/2 after four overs.

Englishmen Max Holden and Sam Curran started rebuilding the innings. The Vipers received a booster dose in the sixth over when skipper Curran stroked three consecutive fours off Farooqi. But the Emirates bowlers did not let the batters get away as they bowled a few tight overs next.

The Vipers reached the 100-run mark in the 12th over as they looked set to accelerate soon. Holden (41 off 32), who was providing able support to Curran, however fell at the wrong time, thus ending an 89-run partnership in the 15th over.

Curran reached his milestone, breaching the 50-run mark in 39 balls. His new partner, Dan Lawrence, helped the cause with an active outing in the middle. The duo provided a much-needed push in the death overs courtesy a 57-run partnership off 33 balls.

The Vipers ended the innings at 182/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Curran remained unbeaten for 74(51) while Lawrence was run out off the final ball for 23(15). For the Emirates, Farooqi was the best bowler with figures of 2/33.

Emirates openers Muhammad Waseem and Andre Fletcher started the chase well, scoring 11 runs off the first over bowled by David Payne. Fletcher looked good, but a miscue off Naseem Shah ended his innings prematurely for 10(11).

Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Banton, who came in at number 3, could not contribute much (7 off 6) as he became Naseem's second victim. The Emirates were in for another setback soon after as Waseem went back to the hut for 26(13). The Vipers put their opposition well and truly in trouble by the time the powerplay ended (46/3).

The 22-year-old American Sanjay Krishnamurthi (2 off 9) also failed. The Emirates needed 129 runs off 12 overs as Shakib Al Hasan and skipper Kieron Pollard came together. The duo formed a much-needed 50+ run partnership but it came at a slower rate than the team would have liked. Shakib fell for 36(27) in the 16th over as the equation stood at 69 runs needed off 29 balls.

A whirlwind knock from Pollard was required now, but it did not come as the West Indian was Naseem's third victim. Emirates' fate looked sealed now as the batters to come next could not do much. In the end, the team was all out for 136 in the 19th over.

The Vipers won the match by 46 runs and in the process got hold off their first-ever title. Naseem and Payne were the chief destroyers as they picked up three wickets each.

Curran was adjudged the Player of the Match for his captain's knock of 74* and was also declared the Player of the Tournament for his 397 runs and seven wickets in 12 innings.

Curran ended up as the top-scorer of the tournament as well while Dubai Capitals' Waqar Salamkheil and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders' Ajay Kumar were joint-highest wicket-takers (18).