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Dubai Capitals win last-over thriller to lift ILT20 title
The Capitals chased down 190 in the final over, thanks to Sikandar Raza's stunning 12-ball unbeaten 34
- PUBLISHED: Sun 9 Feb 2025, 10:10 PM UPDATED: Mon 10 Feb 2025, 1:21 AM
Sikandar Raza's biggest dream in life was to become a fighter pilot for the Pakistan Air Force. But his dreams to fly into the sky at incredible speed were over when he failed a vision test.
Having become a cricketer, Raza decided to move to Zimbabwe to launch his international career.
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The batting all-rounder succeeded in making a name for himself on the world stage with impressive performances for the Zimbabwean national team.
But his greatest moment came on Sunday night under the iconic 'Ring of Fire' in Dubai.
With the Dubai Capitals needing 38 runs in 19 balls with five wickets in hand to win the ILT20 final against the Desert Vipers, who made 189 for five in 20 overs, Raza walked in and launched a fearless counter-attack, guiding the team to an unforgettable four-wicket win in the final over.
His 12-ball unbeaten 34 will go down as one of the greatest match-changing innings in T20 history as the Capitals clinched their first ILT20 title.
Having hit the match-winning boundary to the backward point off Khuzaima Tanveer, Raza ran jubilantly and jumped for joy before he was mobbed by his teammates in euphoric celebrations.
The memorable win would not have been possible, of course, without a crucial 80-run fourth-wicket partnership between Shai Hope (43 off 39 balls) and Rovman Powell (63 off 38 balls) after Vipers new-ball bowlers Mohammad Amir (2/35) and David Payne (2/28) got early wickets, reducing the Capitals to 31 for three in 4.5 overs.
There was also an important contribution from number six Dasun Shanaka who scored 21 off just 10 balls.
Earlier, Desert Vipers rode on Max Holden's 51-ball 76 and Sam Curran's 33-ball 62 not out to post 189 for five in 20 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan also chipped in with a quickfire 27 off 13 balls to help the Vipers post a challenging total.
For a long time in the match, it did seem that total would be enough to defend for the Vipers.
But Powell and Hope turned the Capitals fortunes around with their magnificent partnership before Raza turned up to produce some stunning batting fireworks at the Dubai International Stadium.
"I just keep believing knowing that when it's crunch time, crunch players come to the party," Powell, who was named man-of-the match, said of Raza.
"We have done a lot of work during the three weeks, we built a fantastic camaraderie in the group. I think that carries us all the way."
Brief scores
Dubai Capitals beat Desert Vipers by four wickets.
Desert Vipers 189/5 in 20 overs (Max Holden 76, Sam Curran 62 not out, Azam Khan 27, Obed McCoy 2 for 44, Haider Ali 1 for 6)
Dubai Capitals 191/6 in 19.2 overs (Rovman Powell 63, Shai Hope 43, Sikandar Raza 34 not out, Dasun Shanaka 21, David Payne 2 for 28, Mohammad Amir 2 for 35)
Player of the Match: Rovman Powell
DP World ILT20 Season 3 belt winners:
Red Belt (Most Valuable Player): Sam Curran, Dubai Capitals
Green Belt (Best Batter): Shai Hope, Dubai Capitals
White Belt (Best Bowler): Fazalhaq Farooqi, MI Emirates
Blue Belt (Best UAE player): Muhammad Waseem, MI Emirates
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Rituraj Borkakoty is Sports Editor and has spent more than two decades writing on his sporting heroes. He also loves an underdog story, so if you have one, share it with him. He would love to bring it to life.