Dubai, September 25: Gulf Giants Development won the fourth edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament, beating Desert Vipers Development by four wickets in the final at the ICC Academy in Dubai.
The Vipers were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs. The Giants reached 144/6 in 18.4 overs, with Sohaib Khan and Junaid Shamsu putting on an unbeaten 55 for the seventh wicket to see them home.
Aayan Khan takes three
Harshit Kaushik top-scored for the Vipers with 42 off 32 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. Khuzaima Tanveer added 30 off 17 late in the innings, with three sixes, and Israr Ahmad made 24 off 12 at the top.
Aayan Khan led the Giants’ attack with 3/33. Hazret Luqman took 2/30 and Haider Razzaq’s tight spell brought him 1/14.
Chase wobbles before unbeaten stand
The Giants slipped to 4/48 inside the powerplay. Tanveer took two wickets in the first over.
Sagar Kalyan hit back with 39 off 22 balls, including four fours and two sixes. Sohaib then made 30 not out off 23 with four fours, and Shamsu finished unbeaten on 29 off 29, with two fours and a six. Wasim Akram took two wickets for the Vipers.
Kalyan was named Player of the Tournament. He was the highest run-scorer with 280 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 189, including three half-centuries. Desert Vipers Development’s Wali Muhammad Afridi was the leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets in seven innings.
What the captains said
Giants captain Adeeb Usmani said: “It means a lot to me and to the team. This year, the domestic standard of the DP World ILT20 is very high. Sagar Kalyan, Anshh Taandon and Tanish Suri did outstandingly with the bat, while Sohaib Khan stepped up in the final and played a very important innings.”
“Our bowlers also did an extraordinary job, and that is why we were able to win the final. The management made sure we did not feel the pressure of playing a final, so we approached it like a normal game, and the boys were able to express themselves and perform.”
Vipers captain Vriitya Aravind felt his side were short. “I think we were 20 runs short. The fast bowlers did their best to keep us in the game and showed that you can never give up. We got two early wickets and there was always hope that we were going to win. We kept believing until the last ball.”
He said the tournament mattered for players hoping to be picked in the DP World ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction, which takes place in Dubai on October 1. “It’s great exposure for everyone playing domestic cricket, but this tournament is also a showcase ahead of the DP World ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction. Whoever puts their hand up here has a better chance of getting picked up.”
He named Kalyan and Wali Muhammad Afridi among the standout players, along with young Vipers Hilal Noor Afghan, who took eight wickets in five matches, and Angad Nehru, who took two in four.
Brief scores
Desert Vipers Development 143 all out in 19.5 overs (Harshit Kaushik 42, Khuzaima Tanveer 30; Aayan Khan 3/33, Hazret Luqman 2/30, Haider Razzaq 1/14) lost to Gulf Giants Development 144/6 in 18.4 overs (Sagar Kalyan 39, Sohaib Khan 30 not out, Junaid Shamsu 29 not out; Khuzaima Tanveer 2/41, Wasim Akram 2/24) by four wickets.
Read more: How Gulf Giants and Desert Vipers reached the final.
