Sharjah Warriors beaten again as Desert Vipers provide clinical lesson

Alex Hales was in dominant mood as Desert Vipers made light work of Sharjah Warriors, who have now lost all three games this season

Dubai: Shrajah Warriors 133-8, Desert Vipers 135-3 - Desert Vipers win by seven wickets

Scorecard

Desert Vipers strolled to their second victory of the ILT20, easing past Abu Dhabi Knight Riders with plenty left in the tank.

Vipers were similarly clinical in dismantling Sharjah Warriors on Sunday, with Alex Hales and Sam Billings to the fore in a dominant run-chase.

The English pair were at it again in Dubai, partnering after Rohan Mustafa and Colin Munro had fallen cheaply to steady the ship and race to their target. Hales made 64, with Billings there at the end unbeaten on 35.

Brandon King (57) was the only batter to stand up for Knight Riders before being bowled for one of Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson's two wickets, with Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka the only other man to pass 15.

He made 26 and, when he was at the crease alongside King, Abu Dhabi were ticking along nicely at 103 for 3 with six-and-a-half overs remaining.

^{Wanindu Hasaranga picked up three wickets for Vipers (Ishara S. Kodikara/Getty Images)}

But when he became the first of three dismissals for Wanindu Hasaranga, they collapsed in a heap, adding just 30 more runs. Andre Russell followed next ball, holing out to long-on – a similar demise would befall Sunil Narine.

In reply, there were few alarms, faced with such a modest total. Mustafa plundered 23 runs off his first 10 balls before top-edging his eleventh to short fine leg, but he had done enough in that cameo to break the back of the chase.

Munro followed shortly afterwards, opening the door for Billings and Hales to continue from where they'd left off.

As against Sharjah, they couldn't be together at the end, with Hales dragging on off Narine, but Sherfane Rutherford whacked Russell for six with 26 deliveries still remaining to put the finishing touches to a rout for Vipers, who remain unbeaten.

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