Enduring a tough outing in the DP World ILT20, the Gulf Giants faced a second consecutive loss against last year's runner-up, Desert Vipers. It was a rematch of the final from last season, but this time the result was reversed.

Opting to bowl after winning the toss, Desert Vipers got off to an exceptional start with Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Afridi wreaking havoc with the new ball. Amir dismissed our skipper James Vince early in the innings, while Shaheen claimed the crucial wicket of the explosive Jamie Smith. The recovery came through a partnership between Chris Lynn and Jordan Cox. Lynn, in his first game of the season, took his time initially but eventually played a sensational knock, scoring 63 runs in just 42 balls. Cox provided valuable support, but our momentum took a hit with the loss of quick wickets. Late cameos from Usman Khan and Chris Jordan pushed our total to 160, which was a good score given the tough conditions. Shaheen Afridi emerged as the star bowler for the Vipers, finishing with figures of 3-22.

In the Vipers' response, the GIants managed to strike early, with Richard Gleeson and Dominic Drakes dismissing Colin Munro and Alex Hales respectively. However, Wanindu Hasaranga had other plans. The aggressive all-rounder, who had previously in the night taken 1 for 26, scored a fiery 42 from just 19 balls, steering the Vipers closer to victory. Adam Hose played his role, while Azam Khan and Sherfane Rutherford ultimately secured the win for the Vipers. Drakes stood out as the pick of our bowlers, delivering a magnificent spell of 4-0-19-2.

Despite a hard-fought effort, we succumbed to a six-wicket loss, prompting us to regroup for our next challenge in Sharjah against the Dubai Capitals. The upcoming match promises to be a thrilling encounter, and we are eager to make a strong comeback, leaving behind the disappointments of the previous games.