Defending champions Dubai Capitals suffered defeat in the opening match of the new International League T20 season, losing to Desert Vipers by four wickets.
Vipers, the losing finalists to Capitals in February, successfully chased down a target of 151 with an over to spare.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUnited States wicketkeeper Andries Gous struck 58 from 36 balls from the top of the order, putting on partnerships of 50 with opening partner Fakhar Zaman (26) and 35 with Max Holden (16).
Waqar Salamkheil struck twice in the 13th over to rock the confidence of the Vipers, bowling Gous and having Sam Curran caught for seven.
But Dan Lawrence steered Vipers home from that point, scoring a steady 19 from 16 balls before Khuzaima Tanveer struck the winning runs off the last ball of Scott Currie's penultimate over.
Capitals were 32-3 inside the powerplay after being put into bat, with Gulbadin Naib and Jordan Cox dismissed for zero and two respectively by English seamers Curran and David Payne.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDavid Willey was bowled by Noor Ahmad for 10, before Mohammad Nabi (29) helped push Capitals towards a respectable score, adding 34 with Rovman Powell (39) and 30 with Dasun Shanaka (12).
Captain Shanaka was the last wicket to fall, to Payne in the final over, as Capitals closed on 150-8, a total they were unable to defend.
ILT20 fixtures & table
[BBC]
