Curran Leads Desert Vipers to First ILT20 Title with Dominant Final Performance

The Desert Vipers’ long wait for a title ended under clear Dubai skies on Saturday night as they outplayed MI Emirates by 46 runs to lift their first International League T20 trophy, finally converting seasons of consistency into silverware.

On a surface that offered pace early but slowed appreciably as the night wore on, the Vipers’ reading of conditions proved decisive. After being sent in, they recovered from early damage to post a competitive 182 for 4, a total that always felt heavier than the numbers suggested.

Curran Builds, Others Finish

The Vipers’ innings wobbled inside the powerplay when Fazalhaq Farooqi struck twice to remove Jason Roy and Fakhar Zaman, reducing them to 36 for 2. With the new ball gripping just enough, shot-making was risky early, and the Emirates briefly sensed control.

Batting with restraint rather than force, the Vipers captain absorbed pressure through the middle overs, allowing Max Holden to play with freedom around him. Holden’s 41 off 32 balls kept the innings moving before Curran took charge himself, lifting the tempo late without exposing his side to collapse.

Curran’s unbeaten 74 from 51 deliveries, laced with eight boundaries, was an innings shaped by awareness of the surface. Dan Lawrence’s brisk 23 off 15 balls at the death ensured the Vipers crossed 180, a mark that quickly began to look formidable as the pitch slowed.

Emirates Choke Under Pressure

Chasing 183, MI Emirates never established a rhythm. Early wickets dented confidence, and the Vipers’ bowlers hunted in pairs. Naseem Shah set the tone with a sharp new-ball spell, removing Tom Banton and finishing with figures of 3 for 18 that squeezed the chase before it could breathe.

Shakib Al Hasan fought briefly with 36, but the required rate climbed steadily as Usman Tariq strangled the middle overs, conceding little and striking twice. Kieron Pollard, often the Emirates’ release valve, found timing elusive and consumed deliveries without shifting momentum.

By the time David Payne ripped through the lower order with three wickets in an over, the contest had slipped decisively. MI Emirates were bowled out for 136 in 18.3 overs, undone as much by pressure as by pace.

A Different Ending This Time

For the Desert Vipers, this title was not about redemption through drama but resolution through control. They assessed conditions better, batted smarter, and bowled with collective discipline, hallmarks of a side that had learned from previous final-day failures.