The Gulf Giants began Season 3 with a thrilling contest against the Sharjah Warriorz, a game that went down to the wire. Despite our spirited efforts, the Warriorz managed to snatch victory, powered by a stunning 83 not out from Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Though we fell short, the fight and resilience shown by the team laid a solid foundation as we turn our focus to the next challenge against the Desert Vipers on Tuesday.

Our opening game was full of positives. Rehan Ahmed shone with the bat, top-scoring with a composed 46. Shimron Hetmyer added firepower in the middle order with a quick 36 off just 23 deliveries, while Mark Adair and Saghir Khan provided vital cameos in the death overs to push us to a competitive total.

On the bowling front, Mark Adair and Blessing Muzarabani were the pick of the bowlers, grabbing two wickets each and keeping us in the hunt. Aayan Khan also bowled a tight last over under immense pressure. However, Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s remarkable innings proved too much to overcome. Despite the loss, the team displayed immense character and determination, leaving plenty of room for optimism as we move forward.

The Desert Vipers started their campaign with a commanding 7-wicket win over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Chasing 166, Daniel Lawrence’s explosive 70 and Sam Curran’s measured 50 led their charge. With stars like Alex Hales, Sherfane Rutherford, Fakhar Zaman, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Lockie Ferguson in their ranks, they pose a formidable challenge.
While the Vipers defeated us twice last season, we can draw confidence from our head-to-head record. In Season 1, we triumphed in three out of four matches against them, including a victory in the final. This history gives us a slight psychological edge heading into the game.

Tuesday’s match will be a tough test, but the Gulf Giants are prepared. With our balanced line-up and fighting spirit, we’re confident of turning things around and securing our first win of the season.