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The Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers match scorecard from Match 12 of the International League T20 (ILT20) 2025–26 season records a convincing eight-wicket victory for Desert Vipers on 12 December 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Gulf Giants scored 157/7 in 20 overs, but Desert Vipers chased down the target with ease, reaching 158/2 in 16.5 overs.
Sam Curran played a match-winning innings of 67 not out from 43 balls, while Max Holden contributed an unbeaten 64 from 41 deliveries. Their partnership helped Desert Vipers complete the chase with 19 balls remaining. Earlier, Khuzaima Tanveer delivered an outstanding bowling performance, taking four wickets for just 10 runs to restrict Gulf Giants to a competitive but ultimately insufficient total.
This article covers the complete match scorecard, batting and bowling figures, fall of wickets, key performances, match details, and frequently asked questions.
Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers Match Details
| Match information | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | International League T20 2025–26 |
| Match number | 12 |
| Date | 12 December 2025 |
| Venue | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai |
| Gulf Giants score | 157/7 in 20 overs |
| Desert Vipers score | 158/2 in 16.5 overs |
| Result | Desert Vipers won by 8 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Khuzaima Tanveer |
| Top scorer for Gulf Giants | Liam Dawson — 38* |
| Top scorer for Desert Vipers | Sam Curran — 67* |
| Best bowling figures | Khuzaima Tanveer — 4/10 |
Desert Vipers won the match through a combination of disciplined bowling and aggressive batting. Gulf Giants lost wickets regularly during their innings, while the Vipers’ batters controlled the chase after two early dismissals.
Gulf Giants Batting Scorecard
Gulf Giants finished their innings at 157/7 after batting for 20 overs. Their innings began poorly, as Pathum Nissanka, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and James Vince fell early. Kyle Mayers attempted to rebuild the innings with 30 runs, while Asif Khan and Liam Dawson contributed valuable runs in the later stages.
Dawson was particularly effective at the end, scoring an unbeaten 38 from just 14 balls. His late acceleration helped Gulf Giants reach a total that offered some hope of defending it.
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Sam Curran b Khuzaima Tanveer | 19 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 158.33 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | b Khuzaima Tanveer | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| James Vince | c Vriitya Aravind b Khuzaima Tanveer | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kyle Mayers | lbw b Noor Ahmad | 30 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 125.00 |
| Gerhard Erasmus | c Dan Lawrence b Khuzaima Tanveer | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 44.44 |
| Asif Khan | Not out | 36 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 94.74 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | b Sam Curran | 20 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Mark Adair | c Sam Curran b Noor Ahmad | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Liam Dawson | Not out | 38 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 271.43 |
| Aayan Afzal Khan | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Chris Wood | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nuwan Thushara | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | Byes 0, leg byes 2, wides 5 | 7 | ||||
| Total | 20 overs | 157/7 |
Gulf Giants struggled to establish a stable top-order partnership. Tanveer dismissed three of their first five batters, preventing the team from building momentum during the powerplay and middle overs.
Mayers’ 30 provided some resistance, but the innings needed a stronger contribution from the middle order. Dawson’s explosive finish, including three sixes, added important runs and helped the Giants cross 150.
Desert Vipers Bowling Scorecard
Desert Vipers’ bowling attack played a major role in determining the result. Khuzaima Tanveer produced the standout spell, taking four wickets for only 10 runs in four overs. Noor Ahmad claimed two wickets, while Sam Curran added another important dismissal.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Payne | 4 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 15.00 |
| Khuzaima Tanveer | 4 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 2.50 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Sam Curran | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
| Noor Ahmad | 4 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 5.50 |
Tanveer’s figures were the highlight of the bowling innings. His ability to take wickets while conceding very few runs disrupted Gulf Giants’ batting plans and prevented them from building a larger total.
Noor Ahmad also bowled effectively, taking two wickets and maintaining an economy rate of 5.50. Although David Payne conceded 60 runs, the contributions of Tanveer, Noor, and Curran helped keep the Giants to 157/7.
Desert Vipers Batting Scorecard
Chasing 158, Desert Vipers reached the target in 16.5 overs. Fakhar Zaman made a quick start, scoring 14 from eight balls, but he was dismissed early by Chris Wood. Hasan Nawaz also fell after scoring seven runs.
The early wickets did little to slow the chase because Max Holden and Sam Curran established a decisive partnership. Holden remained unbeaten on 64 from 41 balls, while Curran scored 67 not out from 43 deliveries.
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | b Chris Wood | 14 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 175.00 |
| Max Holden | Not out | 64 | 41 | 8 | 0 | 156.10 |
| Hasan Nawaz | Run out (Mark Adair/Chris Wood) | 7 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 77.78 |
| Sam Curran | Not out | 67 | 43 | 5 | 3 | 155.81 |
| Vriitya Aravind | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tom Bruce | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dan Lawrence | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Shimron Hetmyer | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Khuzaima Tanveer | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lockie Ferguson | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| David Payne | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Noor Ahmad | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | Byes 0, leg byes 1, wides 5 | 6 | ||||
| Total | 16.5 overs | 158/2 |
Curran and Holden were the decisive players in the chase. Both scored at a high rate without taking unnecessary risks, keeping the required run rate under control.
Their unbeaten 123-run partnership for the third wicket ensured that Desert Vipers did not lose further wickets and completed the chase comfortably. Curran’s three sixes and Holden’s eight boundaries helped the visitors reach the target with time to spare.
Gulf Giants Bowling Scorecard
Gulf Giants used six bowlers during the chase, but they struggled to stop the partnership between Curran and Holden. Chris Wood claimed one wicket, while the other bowlers were unable to make a significant breakthrough.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuwan Thushara | 3.5 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 10.43 |
| Chris Wood | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
| Mark Adair | 4 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 7.50 |
| Kyle Mayers | 3 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 10.33 |
| Gerhard Erasmus | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Liam Dawson | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19.00 |
Wood provided the only breakthrough by dismissing Fakhar Zaman. However, Gulf Giants could not remove either Holden or Curran, allowing the pair to take control of the chase.
Thushara and Mayers conceded runs at more than 10 per over, increasing the pressure on the bowling unit. Once the partnership developed, Gulf Giants struggled to contain the scoring rate or create additional wicket-taking opportunities.
Fall of Wickets
The fall of wickets shows how the two innings developed.
Gulf Giants
| Score | Batter dismissed | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 16/1 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 1.4 |
| 16/2 | James Vince | 1.6 |
| 22/3 | Pathum Nissanka | 3.3 |
| 30/4 | Gerhard Erasmus | 5.5 |
| 67/5 | Kyle Mayers | 9.6 |
| 116/6 | Azmatullah Omarzai | 16.5 |
| 117/7 | Mark Adair | 17.1 |
Gulf Giants lost three wickets for only 22 runs, putting their innings under pressure. Mayers and Asif Khan helped stabilise the innings, while Dawson’s late hitting raised the final total.
Desert Vipers
| Score | Batter dismissed | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 20/1 | Fakhar Zaman | 1.4 |
| 35/2 | Hasan Nawaz | 4.0 |
After losing two wickets, Desert Vipers did not lose another. Holden and Curran built an unbeaten partnership that carried the team to victory.
Key Performances in Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers
Khuzaima Tanveer — 4 wickets for 10 runs: Tanveer was the leading bowler in the match. His economical spell disrupted Gulf Giants’ top order and earned him the Player of the Match award.
Sam Curran — 67 not out: Curran led the chase with an unbeaten half-century. His innings included five fours and three sixes, and he remained at the crease until the target was reached.
Max Holden — 64 not out: Holden provided excellent support, scoring eight boundaries and maintaining a strike rate above 150. His partnership with Curran was crucial to the victory.
Liam Dawson — 38 not out: Dawson gave Gulf Giants a late boost with a rapid innings from 14 balls. His strike rate of more than 270 helped the team reach 157.
Noor Ahmad — 2 wickets for 22 runs: Noor supported Tanveer by taking two important wickets and restricting the scoring rate.
Match Summary
| Match statistic | Gulf Giants | Desert Vipers |
|---|---|---|
| Total score | 157/7 | 158/2 |
| Overs played | 20 | 16.5 |
| Run rate | 7.85 | 9.39 |
| Top batter | Liam Dawson (38*) | Sam Curran (67*) |
| Best bowling figures | — | Khuzaima Tanveer (4/10) |
| Result | Lost by 8 wickets | Won by 8 wickets |
The result reflected the difference between the teams’ performances with the ball and bat. Gulf Giants recovered from a poor start but could not post a total high enough to challenge Desert Vipers. The Vipers’ bowlers restricted the opposition, and their batters then completed a controlled chase.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers match in December 2025?
Desert Vipers won by eight wickets on 12 December 2025 in Match 12 of the ILT20 2025–26 season.
2. What was the final score in the match?
Gulf Giants scored 157/7 in 20 overs. Desert Vipers reached 158/2 in 16.5 overs to win the match.
3. Who was the Player of the Match?
Khuzaima Tanveer received the Player of the Match award after taking four wickets for just 10 runs in four overs.
4. Who scored the most runs in the match?
Sam Curran was the highest scorer, making 67 not out from 43 balls for Desert Vipers. Max Holden also made an unbeaten 64.
5. How many wickets did Desert Vipers lose while chasing the target?
Desert Vipers lost two wickets before reaching 158. The unbeaten partnership between Curran and Holden guided them to victory with 19 balls remaining.
Conclusion
The Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers match scorecard from 12 December 2025 highlights an impressive all-round performance by Desert Vipers in the ILT20. Gulf Giants finished on 157/7, with Liam Dawson scoring a quick unbeaten 38, but Khuzaima Tanveer’s four-wicket spell kept their total within reach.
During the chase, Sam Curran and Max Holden took control after two early wickets. Their unbeaten partnership helped Desert Vipers reach 158/2 in just 16.5 overs, securing an eight-wicket win.
Tanveer’s bowling and the partnership between Curran and Holden were the defining elements of the contest. The result demonstrated the value of early wickets, economical bowling, and partnerships that maintain a strong scoring rate in T20 cricket.
