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In a pulsating ILT20 2025-26 encounter on December 9 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Desert Vipers edged out MI Emirates by a solitary run in the ninth match, preserving their unbeaten streak with a fourth straight victory. Batting first, Vipers posted 159/4 in 20 overs, powered by Max Holden‘s gritty 42 off 37 and Fakhar Zaman‘s fluent 35 off 31, despite Andries Gous retiring hurt early at 21 off 15. MI Emirates, chasing 160, faltered dramatically to finish at 158/9, with David Payne‘s incisive 4/29 proving decisive in the death overs.
Shimron Hetmyer’s jaw-dropping catch gets rid of Nicholas Pooran
The game’s defining moment arrived at 13.5 overs when Shimron Hetmyer pulled off a breathtaking diving catch to dismiss Nicholas Pooran off Sam Curran, shifting momentum decisively. Pooran, on 31 off 29 with four boundaries, mistimed a short-of-length delivery from Curran, dragging it flat and hard towards deep midwicket.
Hetmyer, patrolling the boundary, sprinted leftward before launching into a full-length horizontal dive, pouching the screamer cleanly to leave MI Emirates at 98/3. This athletic gem, likened to a hawk snaring prey, not only ended a threatening 42-run stand between Pooran and Tom Banton but ignited Vipers’ defense.
Here’s the video:
That's a screamerrrrrrrr! 🤯🔥
It could only take a tremendous catch to dismiss a high-flying Pooran. 🙌
— International League T20 (@ILT20Official)
Desert Vipers’ tactical edge secures nail-biting win against MI Emirates
Vipers’ innings gained traction in the powerplay, racing to 51/0 before Gous’ retirement hurt, with a 50-run opening stand in 36 balls fueling early momentum. Holden’s anchoring knock included a tactical twist when, after Pooran controversially declined a stumping chance off Rashid Khan, Vipers retired him out at 15.6 overs (118/2), ushering in Hetmyer (15 off 9, with a six) and Dan Lawrence (15* off 8) for a crucial late surge of 41 runs in the final four overs to set 160.
Chasing, MI Emirates flew to 49/1 in the powerplay, led by Muhammad Waseem‘s 24 and Banton’s aggressive 34 off 29, crossing 50 in 6.1 overs. Post-Hetmyer’s stunner, wickets tumbled: Payne removed Banton (101/4), Kieron Pollard (23 off 13, 144/7), and more in a stellar 19th over yielding three scalps for one run. Tajinder Singh‘s brisk 17 off 7 (two sixes) lifted them to 150/7 by 19.4 overs, but Rashid Khan‘s valiant 13* off 8 (six and four) fell short by one run on the final ball, sealed by Vriitya Aravind‘s sharp run-out. Payne earned Player of the Match for dismantling the chase.
This one-run heist atop the table cements Vipers’ dominance, while MI Emirates rue squandered starts in a contest blending athleticism, strategy, and sheer drama.
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