Chris Lynn’s 72 not out, Gerhard Erasmus’ brilliant 30 and Shimron Hetmyer’s 25 not out helped Adani Gulf Giants beat Desert Vipers by seven wickets in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (February 12) night to be crowned champions of the inaugural ILT20 2023. Helped to emerge as , In front of a packed stadium, Gulf Giants rode on a brilliant three-wicket spell from Carlos Brathwaite to restrict Desert Vipers to 146 for 8 in 20 overs and then put a thrilling end to the first edition of the ILT20.
During the chase of the target on Sunday, a large number of spectators present in the stadium had created an energetic atmosphere in the stadium. Lynn played an unbeaten inning of 72 runs in 50 balls with the help of nine fours and a six.
He added 73 runs from 62 balls with Erasmus, who scored 30 runs from 33 balls for the third wicket. He then shared an unbeaten 50-run partnership in 25 balls for the fourth wicket with Hetmyer. Hetmyer reduced the pressure of the Gulf Giants by scoring an unbeaten 25 off 13 balls with the help of five fours.
Despite Wanindu Hasaranga’s 27-ball 55 studded with six fours and two sixes, the Desert Vipers failed to post a big score. Sam Billings also scored 31 runs in 29 balls with the help of three fours. The pair added 72 runs in 37 balls for the fifth wicket. The main destroyers of the Desert Vipers’ innings were Carlos Brathwaite (3 for 19) and Qais Ahmed (2 for 29).
Gulf Giants won the toss and immediately elected to bowl. Desert Vipers opener Rohan Mustafa came out bravely and hit Colin de Grandhomme for a boundary through extra cover. His opening partner Alex Hales was dismissed on the first ball of Carlos Brathwaite’s second over by James Vince at mid-off for 1 run. In the same over, Mustafa was also run out on the fifth ball. As an appeal for leg before was being turned down, Mustafa tried to steal a single, but an alert Qais Ahmed edged the ball to Brathwaite, who ran him out for 6.
come big game come big man @CRBrathwaite26 With the wickets of Alex Hales, Sam Billings and Tom Curran!
Brilliant spell for him ending with 3/19 in 4 overs…#ALeagueApart #DPWorldILT20 @gulfgiants pic.twitter.com/yNKAKaqIYL– International League T20 (@ILT20Official) February 12, 2023
The Giants began their chase with opener and skipper James Vince, fresh from a match-winning unbeaten knock of 83 against MI Emirates, going for his shots. In the second over, he hit Gus Atkinson’s fourth ball for a brilliant six over fine leg. Opener Chris Lynn also hit a four off Sheldon Cottrell. Vince also lifts Luke Wood straight for a boundary.
Talking about their win, Gulf Giants captain James Vince said, “We set the tone brilliantly with the ball when we reduced them to 25 for three. The pressure was good and really on them. We Couldn’t have started better. Hasaranga came back in the middle but we managed to get him out. Chris Lynn showed his class and maturity to see out the game for us with Hetmyer in the end.”
Brief Score: Desert Viper 146/8 lost to (Sam Billings 31, Wanindu Hasaranga 55, Carlos Brathwaite 3/19, Qais Ahmed 2/29). Gulf Giants 149/3 in 18.4 overs (Chris Lynn 72, Gerhard Erasmus 30, Shimron Hetmyer 25n)
Player of the Match ($1500): Carlos Brathwaite