The inaugural International League T20 final takes place on Sunday when the Dubai International Stadium hosts the conclusion to the first season of the ILT20 as the Desert Vipers go into battle against the Gulf Giants.
These two were the top two teams in the regular season and it has played out that they have made it through to the final. They have looked the best two throughout the competition and they should combine for a wonderful end to the tournament.
Desert Vipers
The Desert Vipers lost to the Gulf Giants twice in the regular season but they didn’t let that distract them when the two sides met in the Qualifier 1 at the beginning of the finals. They were able to turn that previous form on its head and as such they were the first team to book their spot into the final. In what has been quite a hectic end to the campaign, the extra few days off to dust down and make sure they are fully prepared for this final feels like it could be an advantage.
The Vipers have always had an attack which was going to be good in any conditions and we have seen that throughout the competition. The early stage of the season they had the best top order in the tournament as well. They went a little quiet in the second half of the regular campaign, but as class acts usually do they came good when it mattered in the Qualifier and the Vipers will be hoping those key batters have one more big performance in them.
Gulf Giants
The Gulf Giants were strongly fancied to make it through to the final at the first time of asking but a rare lapse in their middle order in the Qualifier left them having to utilise the safety net of the second go at making this final which they created for themselves. To the credit of the Giants, they dusted themselves down from losing to the Desert Vipers to come out on top in a knockout clash with MI Emirates on Friday to boost their morale heading into this final.
The big thing for the Giants in that win over MI Emirates was they got the job done without Tom Banton, who broke his finger against the Vipers and won’t play in this final either. That is a blow but with the form of James Vince they more than fill the void with the bat. The success of the Giants has largely been down to their bowling attack which has performed wonders all season and are taking the pressure off of the batters.
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Key Players
Wanindu Hasaranga ripped the Qualifier 1 right open with a brilliant first two overs to go with the runs he scored earlier in the match. Assuming Sherfane Rutherford isn’t good to go the Desert Vipers will need the runs of the Sri Lankan as well as the wickets.
There is no doubt that the injury to Tom Banton has left a hole in the Gulf Giants’ batting but the form their captain James Vince is in makes up for that if he can get going and deliver the goods. He is a T20 Blast winning captain and that experience could help the men in orange too.
Betting
I’m hoping that the Desert Vipers win this match as I backed them at 4/1 before the tournament was underway so I’m effectively on them at this price to win the final. I really do see this as a 50:50 match although if there is an edge it could be on the Vipers who will be the fresher of the two sides and who won their last meeting but I’m happy to let my bet on the Vipers ride in the hope that they get the job done in this match.
I will go with one bet though and that comes in the man who broke the Qualifier 1 match wide open in Wanindu Hasaranga. He has a performance line in this one of 38.5 which looks a little on the low side. He took 3/36 in the Qualifier against this opponent and although the Giants recovered their poise to get into this final, they basically swept everything Rashid Khan sent down which was basically an admission that they can’t pick the spin. That is music to the ears of the Sri Lankan who could easily bag a couple of wickets here. Even if he doesn’t we saw Hasaranga contribute with the bat in the last match and he’s more than competent in that discipline to score points with it here. He is a good fielder too so this line looks too low to me.
Tips
Back W.Hasaranga’s Performance – Over 38.5pts for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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