DUBAI: Shaheen Shah Afridi’s unbeaten 17-run cameo in the tense run chase propelled Desert Vipers to an enthralling two-wicket victory over MI Emirates in the 15th match of the ILT20 here on Tuesday.
Put into bat first, MI Emirates could register 149/9 in the allotted 20 overs.
The table-toppers had a dismal start to their innings as Mohammad Amir got Kusal Mendis (0) caught behind on the second delivery of the first over.
Opening batter Muhammad Waseem (19) and Andre Fletcher (18) had brief stints as they both fell victim to Luke Wood inside the batting powerplay.
Ambati Rayadu and Akeal Hosein played cautious knocks in the middle as the Vipers’ bowlers kept things tight.
Tim David then bolstered MI Emirates’ total with a brisk cameo, which lasted in an eventful last over bowled by Mohammad Amir.
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David top-scored for MI Emirates with a 14-ball 28, which featured two boundaries and two sixes.
Amir led the bowling attack for the Vipers with 3/26, followed by Matheesha Pathirana and Luke Wood, who bagged two each.
In return, Desert Vipers chased down the 150-run target on the last delivery of the innings when Shaheen Shah Afridi slashed one towards the third-man region and cleverly ran three.
The bottom-ranked side had a similar start to their innings as they were four down for just 28 runs in 5.3 overs.
Wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan (20) and Wanindu Hasaranga (26) anchored the innings in the middle with sensible knocks before Sherfane Rutheford set the tone for the pursuit.
Rutherford took on the MI Emirates’ bowlers and smashed five boundaries and a six on his way to a 22-ball 35.
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But the left-handed batter had an agonizing end to his knock as he fell in the 18th over when the Vipers needed a further 21 runs.
However, a sensational ninth-wicket partnership between Shaheen Afridi and Luke Wood steered the Vipers to glory.
Shaheen scored an unbeaten 17 off 12 deliveries while Wood scored six not out.
For MI Emirates, Mohammad Rohid picked up three wickets while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Dwayne Bravo took two each.
The two-wicket victory lifted Desert Vipers from the bottom to the fifth place in ILT20 standings while MI Emirates remained at the top.
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