Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
During the 3rd match of the International League T20 (ILT20) 2025 between Abu Dhabi Knight Riders i Desert vipers at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Sam Curran‘s exceptional fielding skills played a pivotal role in turning the game so far in the Vipers’ favour.
Sam Curran’s brilliant outing secures a crucial wicket for Desert Vipers
On the last ball of the seventh over, Lockie Ferguson delivered a full, swinging delivery outside off, asking Michael Pepper to drive it through the wide middle region. At halfway, Sam Curran showed exceptional athleticism, sprinting quickly to the ball. With remarkable precision and composure, Curran executed a direct hit on the stumps, his delivery perfectly timed and precise. Although Pepper lunged back, he found himself far from the crease, unable to make it in time. Curran’s sharp climbing, quick thinking and pinpoint accuracy made the outing look perfect, turning the tide in favor of the Desert Vipers. This crucial dismissal left the Knight Riders struggling at 39/3.
Here is the video:
Don’t run when it’s Curran 😎
Direct hit and it’s curtains for Pepper ☝️#ILT20onZee #T20HeroesKaJalwa #DPWorldILT20 #ADKRvDV pic.twitter.com/QHO8Y7go58— Zee Cricket (@ilt20onzee) January 12, 2025
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders set a competitive target
The Knight Riders put in a good batting performance to reach 166/5 in their 20 overs. Phil Salt he anchored the innings with a well-crafted 71 off 49 balls, showing a mix of patience and aggression. His innings featured five boundaries and four towering sixes, setting the tone for the Knight Riders. Alishan Sharafu he provided valuable support, making 46 off 34 deliveries before retiring. Their 50-run partnership came in quick time, ensuring the innings gathered momentum after an early falter. while Kyle Mayers i Joe Clarke fell cheap, Andrew Russell he added fireworks in the finals with an unbeaten 14-ball 30, hitting a blistering 214.28. The Knight Riders paced their innings effectively, speeding towards the death and amassing 60 runs in the over five overs. Mohammad Amir and Ferguson stood out for the Vipers in tight spells but their efforts were overshadowed by Russell’s late strike.
Also WATCH: Lockie Ferguson rips the leg stump off Joe Clarke with a sensational delivery
Vipers bowling efforts – a mix of control and challenges
The Vipers produced a varied bowling performance, showing moments of brilliance but struggling to maintain consistency. Ferguson was the standout bowler, combining pace and accuracy to finish with figures of 1/26 from his four overs. Amir, although slightly more expensive, provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Kyle Mayers.
Luke Wood he endured well with a disciplined spell, conceding just 27 runs in his four overs and keeping the boundaries to a minimum. However, Curran endured a tough outing, conceding 48 runs in his four overs despite his effort to vary the pace and length. Nathan Sowter he struggled to make an impact, giving away 33 runs as the Knight Riders targeted him in the middle overs. The bowlers’ efforts were bolstered by Curran’s brilliant run, but a lack of wickets in the death overs allowed the Knight Riders to accelerate, amassing 60 runs in the last five overs. The Vipers will need their batting unit to rise to the occasion and chase down a challenging target of 167.
