The Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants have been the most dominant team in the inaugural International League T20 (ILT20) so far.
Led by their talismanic captain James Vince, the Giants started their ILT20 2023 campaign with a comprehensive six-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on January 15.
The Giants continued their impressive run as they beat Dubai Capitals in back-to-back matches and followed it up by defeating Desert Vipers in a high-scoring encounter.
However, the Giants suffered their first setback as Sharjah Warriors pipped them by 21 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to end their four-match winning streak.
The Andy Flower-coached Giants later experienced a frustrating spell as their next two matches against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and MI Emirates were abandoned without a bowl being bowled due to rain in Dubai.
Four days later, the Giants once again bounced back by beating MI Emirates by five wickets in Abu Dhabi to book their place in the ILT20 2023 playoffs.
The Vince-led Giants continued their scintillating form as they edged the formidable Desert Vipers by six wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium to lock their place in the top two.
The Giants managed to finish the league phase on a high as they thrashed Sharjah Warriors by seven wickets in their final league game in Dubai.
With 16 points from 10 matches, the Giants ended the league phase at the top of the ILT20 2023 standings, two points more than second-placed Vipers.
For the Giants, captain Vince has led from the front with the bat. The 31-year-old England cricketer has amassed 321 runs in eight matches at an average of 45.85 and a strike rate of 138.96.
In the bowling department, all-rounder David Wiese and pacer Chris Jordan have been wreckers-in-chief for the Giants in the ongoing T20 tournament so far. While Wiese has bagged 15 wickets in eight games, Jordan has claimed 14 wickets in seven matches.
Buoyant Giants will aim to cement their place in the ILT20 2023 final when they square off against the Vipers in Qualifier 1 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, February 8.
