Table-toppers Gulf Giants will lock horns with second-placed Desert Vipers in Qualifier 1 of the inaugural International League T20 (ILT20) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, February 8.

The winner of Qualifier 1 will move straight into the ILT20 2023 final while the loser will get another chance to qualify for the summit clash by playing in Qualifier 2 in Dubai on Friday.

The Giants and the Vipers have been the most impressive teams in the ongoing T20 tournament.

Led by England cricketer James Vince, the Giants registered seven wins, one defeat while their two matches were abandoned during the league phase. With 16 points from 10 matches, the Giants finished at the top of the ILT20 2023 standings.

On the other hand, the Colin Munro-led Vipers won seven matches while suffering three losses, finishing second in the standings with 14 points from 10 games.

For the Giants, captain Vince and David Wiese have been the standout players in the inaugural ILT20. While Vince has amassed 321 runs in eight matches, Wiese has been the leading wicket-taker with 15 dismissals to his name.

Meanwhile, Alex Hales and Sheldon Cottrell have stolen the limelight for the Vipers. Hales has been the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 465 runs in 10 matches while Cottrell has bagged 12 wickets in nine matches.

Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers head-to-head

Gulf Giants have won both their matches against Desert Vipers in the ILT20 so far. The Giants registered a five-wicket win over the Vipers in their first meeting in Dubai on January 22 and later secured a 25-run victory at the same venue on February 4.

Going by their head-to-head record, the Giants will start as favourites against the Vipers to book their place in the ILT20 2023 final on Wednesday.