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
Desert Vipers face MI Emirates in the latest instalment of the ILT20 2023.
Start of play is scheduled for 6pm local time (2pm GMT) on Sunday, January 29.
The game was be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
MI Emirates are without a win in their last three, though one of those was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
That run has nudged MI out of the top two, with Vipers and Gulf Giants overtaking them. They have 10 points apiece, with MI level alongside Sharjah Warriors on seven each.
Vipers' solitary defeat came two matches ago against Giants; that result has been brushed off and they have won both games since.
Kieron Pollard will be me for MI Emirates (Karim Sahib/AFP via Getty Images)
Vipers showed that they can win without Alex Hales in their win over Dubai Capitals on Saturday. Hales made just 12, the first time in this tournament that he hasn't made at least a half century.
His early departure was offset by crucial contributions from Colin Munro and Sam Billings, with the lower middle order wagging as well to drag Vipers to 149 for 9, a total which ultimately proved to be match-winning thanks to a fine bowling effort.
So, getting Hales cheaply has to be a priority for MI, who have a battery of left-arm seamers with the skillset to trouble the England man, who has historically struggled against the inswinger between bat and pad.
Some welcome sunshine is expected in Sharjah, with temperatures peaking around 21 degrees Celsius.
Desert Vipers are likely to be unchanged aftere winning 24 hours earlier. MI Emirates could bring back Will Smeed and Zahoor Khan.
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
MI Emirates: Kieron Pollard (c), Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Andre Fletcher, Imran Tahir, Samit Patel, Will Smeed, Jordan Thompson, Najibullah Zadran, Zahir Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Brad Wheal, Bas de Leede, Muhammad Waseem, Basil Hameed, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Craig Overton, Tom Lammonby, Dan Mousley, McKenny Clarke, Lorcan Tucker
*Squads are for the whole ILT20 and not specific to this match
Alex Hales will be wary of Fazalhaq Farooqi (Karim Sahib/AFP via Getty Images)
Desert Vipers: Alex Hales, Rohan Mustafa, Colin Munro, Sam Billings, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sherfane Rutherford, Tom Curran, Gus Atkinson, Ali Naseer, Sheldon Cottrell
MI Emirates: Muhammad Waseem, Will Smeed, Andre Fletcher, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Najibullah Zadran, Samit Patel, Dwayne Bravo, Trent Boult, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zahoor Khan
Coming soon.
Desert Vipers will be confident of extending the gap between the two teams, though MI have a middle order capable of beating any team.
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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