ILT20: Hetmyer’s Gulf Giants win inaugural title
Gulf Giants 149 for 3 (Lynn 72, Erasmus 30, Hetmyer 25*) beat Desert Vipers 146 for 8 (Hasaranga 55, Billings 31, Brathwaite 3-19, Qais 2-29) by seven wickets
Chris Lynn struck a half-century following a slowish start to help Gulf Giants hunt down the 147-run target and be crowned champions of the inaugural ILT20. This was after Carlos Brathwaite’s three for 19 and Qais Ahmad’s 2 for 29 helped restrict Desert Vipers to 146 for 8.
Opting to bowl, Vipers were pegged back inside the powerplay with Brathwaite and Colin de Grandhomme striking once apiece.
Alex Hales, the leading run-scorer of the competition, was the first to depart as he chipped one off Brathwaite to mid-off. When Chris Jordan pulled off a one-handed stunner off his own bowling to dismiss Colin Munro, Vipers were 44 for 3 in the ninth over.
But Sam Billings found an ally in Wanindu Hasaranga with whom he added 72 off just 37 balls. While Billings was steady, it was Hasaranga’s knock that lifted Vipers. He hit six fours and two sixes in his knock but fell soon after Billings’ dismissal. Tom Curran and Ali Naseer hit one four each to take Vipers close to 150.
Luke Wood started the defence on a bright note when he had James Vince caught behind in his first over, the fourth of the innings. Two balls later, Curran made a mess of de Grandhomme’s stumps to raise hopes for the Vipers.
But Lynn brought his experience to the fore to add 73 off 62 with Gerhard Erasmus first and then a 25-ball 50 with Shimron Hetmyer to take Giants home. Lynn struck nine fours and a six and finished unbeaten on 72 off 50 balls. Hetmyer hastened the end by staying not out for a 13-ball 25. (ESPNcricinfo)
