WATCH: Wanindu Hasaranga’s scintillating three-wicket haul hands Desert Vipers crucial win in ILT20

Sri Lanka cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga’s allround effort helped Desert Vipers to win over Gulf Giants in the Qualifier 1 of the International League T20 (ILT20) in Dubai on February 8, Wednesday. The Desert Vipers beat the Gulf Giants by 19 runs and reached the final of the league. With this win, the Vipers became the first team to reach the final of the inaugural edition of the tournament. Apart from Hasaranga, Sherfane Rutherford and Tom Curran made worthwhile contributions in the match against the Giants as well.

Hasaranga scored 31 runs from 20 balls, Sam Billings struck 31 off 29 while Sherfane Rutherford scored 37 off 19 to help the Vipers post  178/7 in the first innings. However, the Giants got off to a good start but their innings crumbled after quick strikes from Hasaranga (3-36). Curran, on the other hand, who had made a 17-ball 29, finished with 4-31 to bowl the Giants out for 159.

Hasaranga struck with his first delivery to dismiss Chris Lynn for 26. Meanwhile, James Vince was bowled by Tom Curran for 21. Hasaranga, in the 11th over, struck twice and sent off both Colin de Grandhomme and David Wiese lbw. Later Curran sent back power hitter Carlos Brathwaite, Sanchit Sharma, and Aayan Afzal Khan.

Watch Wanindu Hasaranga’s three-wicket haul

The Gulf Giants will now await the winner of the MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals match to face off in Qualifier 2. The winner of Qualifier 2 will be the second finalist in the tournament. The summit clash is scheduled to be held on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The ILT20 tournament is being played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which was sanctioned by Emirates Cricket Board. The first edition of the 20-20 tournament was originally scheduled to take place during January and February last year, but it was rescheduled to begin in January 2023. There are only six teams competing in the tournament. The Indian T20 League franchises such as the Kolkata franchise, Mumbai franchise, and Delhi franchise are some of the owners of the teams. The owners also got the chance to sign up four players from their current Indian T20 League teams.