Chris Lynn Stuns Desert Vipers; Takes Gulf Giants To Inaugural ILT20 Title Win

Cricket Image for Chris Lynn Stuns Desert Vipers; Takes Gulf Giants To Inaugural ILT20 Title Win (Image Source: Twitter)

GUL vs VIP: Chris Lynn showed thunderous form in the finals of International League T20 as he powered Gulf Giants to a 7 wicket win against Desert Vipers. Gulf Giants have won the inaugural ILT20 tournament. 

Chasing 147 runs to win, Gulf Giants were in a spot of bother after losing 2 wickets inside the powerplay. After a 73 run partnership for the 3rd wicket with opener Chris Lynn, Gerhard Erasmus was also dismissed in the 15th over as Gulf Giants were struggling at 99/4, requiring another 48 runs to win of 33 balls. 

After an excellent over by Tom Curran, the equation was brought down to 42 runs off 24 balls. Then began the Chris Lynn-Shimron Hetmyer show. The duo smacked a combined four boundaries in the 17th over by Chris Wood. In the next over, Shimron Hetmyer smacked three consecutive fours as the eqaution was brought down to just 8 runs from 12 balls. 

Lynn smacked two boundaries in the 19th over against Sheldon Cottrell to complete the run chase with 8 balls remaining. Lynn remained unbeaten on 72 runs off 50 balls with 9 fours & a six. Hetmyer remained not out after scoring 25 runs off 13 balls with 5 fours as the duo etched an unbroken partnership of 50 runs in 25 balls. For Desert Vipers, Luke Wood, Tom Curran & Wanindu Hasaranga managed 1 wicket each. 

In the first innings, 

Despite Wanindy Hasaranga's thunderous knock, Gulf Giants bowlers managed to pull back things in their favour, halting Desert Vipers to 146/8 in the final of the inaugural International League T20. Gulf Giants now need 147 runs in 20 overs to win the ILT20 2023 title. 

Batting first, Desert Vipers had a horrendous start as they lost Rohan Mustafa (6) and Alex Hales (1) within the first two overs. Vipers went on to lose Adam Lyth (13) inside the powerplay and Colin de Grandhomme in the 9th over, bringing the score down to a mere 44/4 in 9 overs. 

From thereon, English keeper-batter Sam Billings and Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga got together to stabilize the innings a bit, etching a partnership of 72 runs for the 5th wicket. However, Hasaranga was the main scorer as he contributed 55 runs in the partnership in comparison to Billings' 16 runs. 

Billings' wicket brought upon a flurry of wickets as Vipers went from 116/5 in 14.4 overs to 134/8 in 18.2 overs. While Sam Billings scored 31 runs in 29 balls with 3 boundaries, Hasaranga smashed 55 runs off 27 deliveries with 6 fours & 2 sixes. 

For Gulf Giants, Carlos Brathwaite registered 3 wickets for just 19 runs in 4 overs, while spinner Qais Ahmed grabbed 2 wickets for 29 runs in 4 overs. Chris Jordan and Colin de Grandhomme also managed 1 wicket each.

Earlier, Gulf Giants captain James Vince won the toss & opted to bowl first against Desert Vipers in the Final of the inaugural ILT20. This match is being played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

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