DUBAI: The Desert Vipers reinforced their dominance in this year’s DP World International League T20 with a resounding 53-run victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on Saturday.

The win, in the annual Sustainability Match held at the Dubai International Stadium, marked the Vipers’ fourth consecutive triumph. It keeps them undefeated in the tournament and firmly at the top of the standings.

The special match highlighted the franchise’s commitment to environmental awareness, with the team promoting sustainability initiatives and the role of sports in reducing ecological impact.

On the field, the Vipers delivered a commanding performance. Alex Hales led the charge with a dynamic 58 off 36 balls, his first half-century of the tournament. Dan Lawrence added a robust 49, while Sam Curran contributed a quickfire 35, propelling the Vipers to an imposing 193 for five.

The spin trio of Nathan Sowter, Wanindu Hasaranga and debutant Dhruv Parashar efficiently dismantled the Knight Riders’ batting lineup. Sowter claimed three wickets, Hasaranga took two, and Parashar chipped in with one. Their efforts, combined with sharp fielding, restricted the opposition to 140 in 17.4 overs.

The fielding display was capped by an electrifying moment from Luke Wood, who took three outfield catches and played a pivotal role in a spectacular boundary-line assist. His effort to flick a catch to substitute fielder David Payne to dismiss the dangerous Andre Russell earned him Player of the Match.

Spin bowler Nathan Sowter, who claimed three wickets, lauded the team’s start to the season.

“We’re flying; it’s a great start to the tournament. Last year, we only managed four wins, and now we’re four from four. If we can keep this momentum and go into the break with six wins, we’ll be well-positioned to finish in the top two and control our destiny,” he said.

He highlighted Wood’s brilliance as a game-changing moment.

“We practiced these catches during warm-ups. Moments like that change games and hats off to Woody — he worked hard and got his rewards today. He fully deserved the player of the match award,” Sowter said.

Reflecting on his own performance, Sowter admitted it wasn’t his best day but acknowledged the unpredictable nature of cricket.

“Tonight, I got three wickets despite not bowling as well as I could. It’s a fickle game, but you take the wickets and move on to the next one,” he said.

The Vipers’ next challenge comes with two matches in three days, a test that could solidify their spot at the top and edge them closer to playoff contention. They are certainly proving to be the team to beat in this year’s DP World ILT20.

DUBAI: Avishka Fernando produced a stunning display of power-hitting to guide the Sharjah Warriorz to a thrilling five-wicket victory over the Dubai Capitals in the DP World International League T20 on Friday.

Fernando smashed the fastest half-century in the tournament’s history, reaching the milestone in just 16 balls, as the Warriorz chased a daunting target of 202 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. His explosive 81 off 27 balls, featuring eight sixes and six fours, anchored the chase, which was completed in 18.1 overs.

“I wanted to play my natural game and I thank God for how things turned out, he said. “The wicket was great to bat on, and when they scored 200 I knew I had to play positively. It came naturally, and I’m grateful for that.

“I didn’t realize I had broken the record for the fastest 50 but I’m happy with the performance.”

The Capitals had posted an imposing 201/5, led by Shai Hope’s 83 off 49 balls. Captain Sikandar Raza praised his team’s batting but acknowledged the challenge created by late-game conditions.

“I thought it was a very good total. You don’t usually see 202 in Sharjah, so I was pretty confident it was a strong score, and we should have been able to win the game.

“Shai has been a fantastic addition to the team and hopefully the other players around him step up as well. The wicket got better later and the dew made it tougher. The cutters weren’t holding in the wicket either. Our fielding could have been better and Avishka played brilliantly.”

Johnson Charles (37 runs off 19 balls) and Jason Roy (26 off 21) provided the Warriorz with a strong start, while Luke Wells helped complete the job with a composed 31 not out from 17 balls.

The Capitals’ bowlers struggled under the batting onslaught, with Gulbadin Naib conceding 27 runs in a single over, the most in the tournament’s history.

The victory highlighted the strength of the Warriorz, in particular their explosive batting lineup, with Fernando’s heroics setting the tone for what already promises to be an exciting season of cricket.