After two heartbreaks, it was third time lucky for Desert Vipers as they broke the final hoodoo, defeating MI Emirates by 46 runs to claim their maiden ILT20 title in Dubai.

The win was headlined by captain Sam Curran, who held the Vipers innings together with an unbeaten 74 off 51 balls. He was helped by Max Holden (41 off 32) and Dan Lawrence (23 off 15) as Vipers notched up an impressive 182 for 4 in their 20 overs.

MIE never got their chase going, losing wickets at regular intervals. Naseem Shah was at his fiery best, picking up 3 for 18 in his four overs, while Usman Tariq curbed the runs in the middle overs, returning 2 for 20. David Payne also picked up 3 for 42, all three of his wickets coming in an over, as MIE were bowled out for 136 in 18.3 overs. It was fitting that the most consistent team of the season took home the title.

Vipers’ win means that ILT20 has now had a different winner in each of the first four seasons – Gulf Giants, MIE, Dubai Capitals and now Vipers.

Fakhar Zaman didn’t take time to go after Shakib Al Hasan, depositing him over wide long-on second ball of the innings. MIE were sloppy with their fielding, and both Fakhar and Jason Roy cashed in. After Fakhar collected a boundary off first ball off AM Ghazanfar, Roy hit left-arm quick Muhammad Rohid for back-to-back fours as Vipers raced to 34 for 0 after three overs. But Fazalhaq Farooqi helped MIE hit back with a double-wicket opening over.

Roy first flat-batted a short-of-a-length delivery straight to short midwicket before Farooqi cleaned up Fakhar with a peach of an inducker that pitched just outside off and swung back in breaching the opener’s defenses. Curran took five balls to get off the mark but closed out the powerplay in style with three straight fours off Farooqi as Vipers reached 59 for 2 in six overs.

While Holden took his time to settle, Curran kept the scorecard ticking. He pulled offspinner Tajinder Singh twice through midwicket before guiding Kieron Pollard past short third. Holden, going just about a run-a-ball, found his groove as well as he took Tajinder inside out over covers and then planted him over long-on as Vipers raced past 100 in the 12th over.

Mystery spinner Arab Gul broke the 89-run third-wicket stand by accounting for Holden but Lawrence ensured the momentum wasn’t lost. He smoked Gul over covers second ball before Curran reached his fifty off 39 balls as Vipers eyed a late push. That came via a 21-run 18th over with Curran and Lawrence sending Romario Shepherd over the fence three times. Vipers collected 46 runs off the last four overs to breach the 180-mark.

Sprinters Chamod Yodasinghe and Amasha de Silva claimed the 60m titles as the likes of Nimali Liyanarachchi and Lakshika Sugandi remained unchallenged in their respective pet events at the season opening National Short Track Championship held at the Sugathadasa Stadium 200metres track on Saturday.

‎Yodasinghe blazed to a 6.68 seconds finish to win the men’s 60 m final while Amasha clocked 7.55 seconds to win the women’s event after returning a time of 7.58 seconds in the heats. M.P.P. Silva and Meron Wijesinghe fiished second and third respectively in the men’s final.

‎In the absence of veterans Kalinga Kumarage and Anura Dharshana, Isuru Lakshan took the men’s 400 metres title in a time of 48.15 seconds, while emerging talent Kalhara Indupa finished second in a time of 49.24 seconds.

‎The corresponding women’s event was sans all top athletes and was won by WHM Fernando (58.97).

‎In the 60 metres hurdles Roshan Ranatunga (7.90secs) and veteran Lakahika Sugandi (8.69secs) were the undisputed champions.

‎The women’s 800 metres witnessed a close finish with veteran Nimali Liyanarachchi winning the contest in a time of 2:12.43 seconds. Ajantha Kumari (2:12.47) and Madushani Dilrukshi (2:12.85) finished second and third respectively.

‎Former Walala Central athlete Shehan Dilranga took the men’s 800 metres in a time of 1:52.49 seconds as experienced campaigners Harsha Karunaratne and Rusiru Chathuranga were conspicious by their absence. Pansilu Giridara (1:52.76) fiished a close second while Sanjaya Srinath finished third.

‎Madushani Herath had little competition in winning the women’s long lump (6.21m) and the triple jump (13.23m). A.P. Krishandan (7.50m) and Pasindu Malshan (16.11m) were the winners of the men’s long jump and triple jump respectively.

‎R.P. Gamage (women’s high jump – 1.71m), S.A.T Dasun (men’s high jump -2.13m), O.T. Chandrasekara (women’s shot put- 12.03m), Subeendrakumar Mithunraj (men’s shot put – 14.79m), R.A.D.H. Kumara (men’s 3000m – 8:50.50 secs) and Rasara Wijesuriya (women’s 3000m – 9:29.38 secs) were the winners of the other events.

by Reemus Fernando  ✍️