Desert Vipers meet MI Emirates in Qualifier 1 of the 2025-26 International League T20 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday, 30 December.
The Vipers finished the league stage top with eight wins from ten matches. Max Holden has scored 318 runs in 10 innings at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 126.19, with three half-centuries, while Sam Curran and Dan Lawrence have each passed 210 runs and Fakhar Zaman can turn games with quick cameos. Khuzaima Tanveer and David Payne have taken 25 wickets between them, Naseem Shah has eight wickets in six matches at an economy of 7.75, and Curran has seven at 7.53.
MI Emirates finished second with seven wins and three defeats and arrive on five straight victories. Muhammad Waseem has scored 293 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 132 and an average of 33, with Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard playing key roles. Allah Ghazanfar has 11 wickets at an economy of 6.95, and Fazalhaq Farooqi and Zahoor Khan have combined for 19.
Dew could help the chasing side later in the evening, and execution at the death with bat and ball may decide the qualifier.