Tanveer finishes tight Vipers chase in Sharjah

Desert Vipers held off Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for a two-wicket win in Sharjah, with Khuzaima Tanveer’s late surge settling a chase that swung several times across the night.

Set 171, the Vipers slipped to 44 for three after the powerplay before a stand between Dan Lawrence and Shimron Hetmyer pulled them back into the contest. Hetmyer hit 48 from 25 balls in the middle overs, then Tanveer finished the job with 31 from 12 after the Vipers lost quick wickets near the end.

ADKR had earlier made a strong start with Phil Salt and Alex Hales lifting them to 87 for two at the halfway point. Hales reached a brisk fifty before the Vipers’ spinners slowed the innings. Noor Ahmad and Qais Ahmad shared four wickets, and the Knight Riders’ middle order fell away once Hales departed.

Andre Russell added 36 not out, but the visitors could only push the total to 171 — competitive, but short of the platform they built in the first 10 overs.

The Vipers’ reply began with 19 taken off the first over, the highest opening over in the league’s short history, before Sunil Narine and Ajay Kumar dragged the innings back. Kumar removed Lawrence and Hasan Nawaz in the 16th over, and Russell’s dismissal of Hetmyer — his 500th wicket in T20 cricket — gave Knight Riders hope.

Tanveer had the final say. With eight needed from the last over, he cleared the rope once more and ended the match with a boundary.

Sam Curran, standing in as Vipers captain, said the side “held their nerve when the game tightened late on.” Narine felt ADKR were “15 to 20 runs light” after a strong start but said the dew left his attack with little grip in the second innings.

Brief Scores

Desert Vipers beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 2 wickets
ADKR: 171/6 (Alex Hales 53, Andre Russell 36; Qais Ahmad 2-29, Noor Ahmad 2-35)
Vipers: 175/8 (Shimron Hetmyer 48, Dan Lawrence 35; Ajay Kumar 3-21, Sunil Narine 2-35)
Player of the Match: Shimron Hetmyer