Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers Prediction & Match Preview – ILT20 28th Match

Sharjah Warriorz face Desert Vipers in the 28th match of the 2025-26 International League T20 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday, 26 December. The two sides arrive in very different positions.

The Warriorz are bottom of the table, and their hopes of reaching the top four are slim, depending on both a win here and other results going their way. Even so, they are expected to give everything in a game that is crucial to their season.

The Vipers have been the tournament’s standout side, winning seven of their nine matches to lead the standings comfortably. This is their last league game, and they will want to finish the group stage with momentum.

Sharjah’s flat surface and short boundaries usually produce high totals, and our preview expects around 170 to 185 for the side batting first. The likely XIs include Sikandar Raza, Adil Rashid and Tom Kohler-Cadmore for the Warriorz, and Sam Curran, Jason Roy, Fakhar Zaman and captain Lockie Ferguson for the Vipers.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

Sharjah is generally a batter-friendly venue in limited-overs cricket, with a flat pitch and fairly short boundaries. Pacers may find some seam or bounce early, but this fades, and spinners and bowlers with variations can control the middle overs. Scores are often high, so partnerships and a steady run rate matter. Teams chasing need to plan for dew or a slowing surface later on.

Weather

Pleasant evening conditions are expected at 6:30 pm local time, with temperatures of around 24–25 °C, mostly clear skies and minimal chance of rain. A gentle breeze should not affect play.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 170–185
• 2nd innings: 165–180

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