Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 ILT20
Gulf Giants face Desert Vipers for a place in the ILT20 2023 final.
Start of play is scheduled for 6pm local time (2pm GMT) on Wednesday, February 8.
The game was be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.
Gulf Giants are the in-form side in the competition. After some bad luck with abandonments in back-to-back matches, the Giants have won their last three including a last-ball thriller against MI Emirates.
Desert Vipers lost to the Gulf Giants last time out yet still finished second with seven wins and three losses in their 10 matches.
Gulf Giants topped the ILT20 league table (Getty Images)
An English battle at the top of the order between James Vince of Gulf Giants and Alex Hales of Desert Vipers could be the difference between a place in the final and needing to win another qualifier.
Sheldon Cottrell is the key man for the Vipers with the ball; the West Indian seamer has picked up 12 wickets in the group stage. Cottrell's 12 wickets place him placed only behind Chris Jordan and David Wiese with 14 and 15 respectively. Both of the latter players have played key parts in getting the Giants to the top of the table with spells getting them out of unlikely situations, keeping Vince's side to only one loss.
A sunny day with temperatures expected to hit 27 degrees Celsius.
With this the first game of the knockout stages, both sides will hope for full strength availability.
With the Gulf Giants most recent group match just two days prior to their test with the Vipers, seamers may need to be rested and rotated for the latter stages.
Gulf Giants: James Vince (c), Chris Jordan, Chris Lynn, Tom Banton, Dominic Drakes, David Wiese, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Qais Ahmad, Richard Gleeson, Ollie Pope, Rehan Ahmed, Wayne Madsen, Aayan Afzal Khan, Sanchit Sharma, Chundangapoyil Rizwan, Ashwanth Valthapa, Ansh Tandon, Meet Bhavsar, Thomas Helm, Gerhard Erasmus
Desert Vipers: Colin Munro (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Sam Billings, Alex Hales, Tom Curran, Matheesha Pathirana, Sherfane Rutherford, Sheldon Cottrell, Benny Howell, Ruben Trumpelmann, Mark Watt, Tymal Mills, Adam Lyth, Rohan Mustafa, Shiraz Ahmad, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly, Dinesh Chandimal, Gus Atkinson, Jake Lintott, Luke Wood
*Squads are for the whole ILT20 and not specific to this match
Desert Vipers finished the league stage in second (Getty Images)
Gulf Giants: Chris Lynn, Tom Banton, James Vince, CP Rizwan, Shimron Hetmyer, David Wiese, Liam Dawson, Chris Jordan, Aayan Afzal Khan, Qais Ahmad, Richard Gleeson
Desert Vipers: Alex Hales, Rohan Mustafa, Colin Munro, Sam Billings, Rohan Mustafa, Sherfane Rutherford, Benny Howell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tom Curran, Sheldon Cottrell, Jake Lintott
Paddy Power cannot split these two. Both are available at 5/6.
The Giants' rampant form doesn't look as though it's going to slow down and a place in the final looks likely.
Tickets are available on Platinum List. Child tickets are available for just $2.81 while adult tickets start at $8.42.
ZEE have obtained the broadcast rights for the ILT20 on a long-term deal.
All 34 matches will be aired across the company's 10 linear channels, with coverage provided in more than 10 languages, including English, Hindi and Tamil, as well as on ZEE5 Global.
In the UK, Zee TV can be accessed via channel 709 on Sky and channel 809 on Virgin Media. Every match will also be available via BT Sport (TV/online/app) following a deal betwee the broadcaster and Zee.
Elsewhere in the world, the full tournament will be available via Zee Cinema (SD/HD), Zee Anmol Cinema, ZEE Thirai, Zee Bangla Cinema, Zee Zest (SD/HD), &Pictures, &Flix, and ZEE5.
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