Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers Prediction & Match Preview – ILT20 28th Match
Match summary
Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers ILT20 2025-26 preview: table position, likely XIs, Sharjah pitch and weather, expected scores and our pick.
Match details
| Match | Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers, 28th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | International League T20 2025-26 |
| Date | 26 Dec 2025 |
| Start time | 2:30 pm GMT / 6:30 pm local |
| Venue | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Desert Vipers |
| Toss pick | Sharjah Warriorz |
Matches in this series
Match preview
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.
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.
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
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 170–185 | – |
| Second innings | 165–180 | – |
Desert Vipers
The Vipers top the table with seven wins from nine, while the bottom-placed Warriorz are fighting just to keep slim playoff hopes alive.
Toss pick: Sharjah Warriorz
FAQ
Who is likely to win Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers?
Our preview favours Desert Vipers, the table-toppers with seven wins from nine matches.
Why does this match matter for Sharjah Warriorz?
They are at the bottom of the table, and a playoff place would need a win here plus favourable results elsewhere.
Is this the last league game for the Vipers?
Yes, according to our preview it is their final league match of the 2025-26 season.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Sharjah Warriorz
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore
- Tom Abell
- James Rewwk
- Ethan D’Souza
- Sikandar Razac
- Monank Patel
- Wasim Akram
- Dwaine Pretorius
- Adil Rashid
- Nathan Sowter
- Taskin Ahmed
Desert Vipers
- Fakhar Zaman
- Max Holden
- Hasan Nawaz
- Jason Roy
- Sam Curran
- Tom Brucewk
- Dan Lawrence
- Sanjay Pahal
- Matiullah Khan
- Lockie Fergusonc
- Qais Ahmad