Alex Hales and Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten half centuries carry Desert Vipers past MI Emirates

By K.R. Nayar
Chief Content Writer, DPWorld ILT20

(Please click ILT20 official website www.ilt20.ae for official release of this report and more pictures)

Abu Dhabi. Alex Hales and Sherfane Rutherford’s sparkling unbeaten half centuries and skipper Colin Munro’s cameo knock carried Desert Vipers past MI Emirates in the 15th match of the DP World ILT20 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night. Desert Vipers, through a fine display of intelligent bowling, had also restricted MI Emirates to 169 for 5 despite half centuries from Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran.

Young Desert Vipers fans celebrate 

Hales hit an unbeaten 62 runs off 44 balls with six boundaries and two sixes while Sherfane Rutherford scored a breezy unbeaten 56 off 29 balls with four boundaries and three sixes to put on an unbeaten 94 off 52 balls for the fourth wicket. Desert Vipers’ skipper Colin Munro set the momentum through a fine knock of 41 runs off 22 balls with four boundaries and three sixes. Their brilliant batting overshadowed Kieron Pollard’s 67n.o off 39 balls with one boundary and six sixes and Nicholas Pooran’s 57 off 49 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. Together they had put on 116 runs for the fourth wicket in 69 balls.

Alex Hales ... unstoppable run machine 

Desert Vipers thus moved to the top position in the points table with eight points from five matches while MI Emirates will remain in the third slot with six points from five matches.

Desert Vipers had won the toss and elected to bowl. UAE players Muhammad Waseem and Vriitya Aravind opened the innings for MI Emirates. Gus Atkinson clean bowled Aravind on 3 with the last ball of the second over through an in-dipper. With the first ball of the third over, Sheldon Cottrell forced Waseem to edge to wicketkeeper Sam Billings for 5. With both the openers back in the dug-out for just 10 runs, Andre Fletcher and Nicholas Pooran began the rescue act. From the first five overs, MI Emirates could score only 24 runs.

Kieron Pollard... brilliant strokes 

Fletcher and Pooran managed to keep the scoreboard moving only through singles and doubles rather than boundaries. They added 43 runs in six overs when Wanindu Hasaranga at backward point got Fletcher run out through a direct hit for 21. At the half way mark, MI Emirates reached 65 for 3.

Nicholas Pooran yorked by Tom Curran 

Pooran hit Harsaranga for a six over long-on in the 11th over. Cottrell was re-introduced for the 12th over but he failed to break the partnership. Mateesha Pathirana bowled a tight 13th over giving away just six runs. Rohan Mustafa too bowled brilliantly give away just nine runs from his two overs. MI Emirates thus posted 109 in 15 overs.

Sherfane Rutherford... timely aggressive knock 

The last five overs began with Pooran hitting Mustafa, who bowled the 16th over, for a six over long-on. Pollard reached his half century in 31 balls hitting Atkinson for two consecutive sixes in the 18th over. Pooran too reached his half century in 46 balls and the pair recorded their 100 runs partnership in 68 deliveries. Tom Curran yorked Pooran for 57 with the fifth ball of the last over and also got Najibullah Zadran caught by Alex Hales at long on with the next ball.  In the final five overs, MI Emirates added 60 runs for a total of 169 for 5 in 10 overs.

Chasing a run rate of 8.45. Desert Vipers began shakily losing their opener Rohan Mustafa to the third ball of the first over from Trent Boult. Mustafa on 1, wanting to hit Boult over the covers, got a top edge and was caught by Pooran, running back from covers. Brad Wheal was punished for 16 runs in the second over with Hales hitting a boundary and skipper Colin Munro cracking a six and a boundary off successive deliveries. Munro also flicked Boult for a six in the third over. The score went past the 50-run mark in the sixth over.

Colin Munro sets the momentum 

Munro hit Samit Patel’s first delivery for a six over long on. He tried for another six off the next ball but Pollard, leaping high at long-on, pulled off a brilliant catch. Munro hit 41 runs, and along with Hales the pair put on 72 runs in 41 deliveries. Next man Sam Billing fell to the fifth ball from Patel, top edging to Waseem at extra cover.

MI Emirates fans 

Sherfane Rutherford joined Hales and went for his shots. He lifted Patel for two consecutive sixes in the 10th over. At the half way mark, Desert Vipers were strongly placed at 101 for 3 needing another 69 runs to win. Hales and Rutherford took their team to the target with 21 balls to spare.

Samit Patel...two wicket spell

Speaking about their performance Desert Vipers’ Sherfane Rutherford said, “I want to keep things simple and just watch the ball. I was just trying to react to the ball. The key was just to use the pace and that worked for me.”

Matt Boucher, CEO Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub presents the Player of the Match award to Sherfane Rutherford 

Meanwhile, MI Emirates’ Trent Boult said, “It becomes easier to bat on in the second innings here. I thought they played extremely well. They timed their innings quite nicely. That's a luxury when you're chasing 170.”

Brief scores:

Desert Vipers bt MI Emirates by 7 wkts.  MI Emirates 169 for 5 in 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 21, Nicholas Pooran 57, Kieron Pollard 67n.o, Tom Curran 2 for 38) Desert Vipers 170 for 3 in 16.3 overs (Alex Hales 62n.o, Colin Munro 41, Sherfane Rutherford 56n.o, Samit Patel 2 for 23)

 Player of Match ($1500): Sherfane Rutherford

DP World Smart delivery of the day ($1500): Tom Curran’s yorker to dismiss Nicholas Pooran

Fairplay News biggest hit of the match ($ 1500):  Colin Munro’ six of 106 mts.

Skytech.Net Super 4s of the match ($1500): Alex Hales (six boundaries)

Sportsbuzz Buzzmaker of the match ($1500): Kieron Pollard for scoring 106 fantasy points

Green Belt Holder: Alex Hales

White Belt Holder: Chris Jordan

Schedule for 25 January 2023:

Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6 pm GST (7:30 pm IST) – Dubai International Stadium