ILT20 2025 Match 18: Sharjah Warriors vs Desert Vipers – Match Preview
The 18th match of the International League T20 (ILT20) 2025 features an exciting clash between the Sharjah Warriors and the Desert Vipers. The game will take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on January 25, 2025, at 7:30 PM local time. Both teams will look to gain momentum as the tournament heats up.
Pitch Report
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is well-known for its batting-friendly surface, offering consistent bounce and shorter boundaries, which often result in high-scoring games. Spinners may find some grip in the second innings as the pitch wears down, but pacers will need to rely on their variations. Teams winning the toss usually prefer chasing due to the dew factor in evening games.
Predicted Playing XIs and Key Players
Sharjah Warriors Probable XI
- Jason Roy (Impact Player) – Explosive at the top of the order, capable of dismantling bowling attacks.
- Tim Southee (c) – A seasoned pacer who brings leadership and death-over expertise.
- Johnson Charles – A power-hitter who can accelerate quickly in the powerplay.
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore – Consistent middle-order batsman with a solid technique.
- Avishka Fernando – A versatile batter capable of anchoring innings or hitting big shots.
- Rohan Mustafa – An experienced all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball.
- Luke Wells – Adds depth to the batting and provides part-time spin.
- Tim Seifert (wk) – Agile behind the stumps and a reliable middle-order batter.
- Harmeet Singh – A promising spinner who can provide crucial breakthroughs.
- Ashton Agar – A dependable all-rounder known for his tight bowling.
- Adam Milne – A pace spearhead with the ability to swing the ball early.
Desert Vipers Probable XI
- Alex Hales – In red-hot form, one of the most dangerous T20 openers globally.
- Fakhar Zaman – A destructive batsman known for his big-hitting ability in the powerplay.
- Daniel Lawrence – A technically sound batsman with the ability to build an innings.
- Sherfane Rutherford – A powerful middle-order hitter with the ability to finish games.
- Sam Curran – A world-class all-rounder who contributes with bat and ball in crunch moments.
- Wanindu Hasaranga – A key spinner who thrives on turning tracks and a handy lower-order hitter.
- Lockie Ferguson (c) – A genuine pace weapon and leader of the Vipers’ bowling attack.
- David Payne – A left-arm pacer with the knack for taking wickets in the powerplay.
- Mohammad Amir – Brings experience and deadly swing bowling in the opening overs.
- Tanish Suri (wk) – Reliable behind the stumps and a useful batter down the order.
- Azam Khan (Impact Player) – A power-hitter who can accelerate at the death.
Key Battles to Watch
- Jason Roy vs Lockie Ferguson: Roy’s aggressive start will face a challenge from Ferguson’s express pace.
- Wanindu Hasaranga vs Avishka Fernando: Hasaranga’s ability to deceive batters with his variations will be pivotal against Fernando.
- Sam Curran vs Tim Southee: Both all-rounders are proven match-winners and can tilt the game in their team's favor.
Fantasy Cricket Tips and Dream11 Team
Fantasy Tips
- Captain: Alex Hales – With his current form, Hales can score big in Sharjah’s batting-friendly conditions.
- Vice-Captain: Wanindu Hasaranga – A match-winner with both bat and ball.
- High Value Picks: Jason Roy, Sam Curran, Mohammad Amir.
- Differential Picks: Harmeet Singh and Tanish Suri – Both can provide good value at a lower credit cost.
Dream11 Team
- Wicketkeeper: Tim Seifert, Azam Khan.
- Batters: Alex Hales (C), Jason Roy, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Fakhar Zaman.
- All-Rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga (VC), Sam Curran, Rohan Mustafa.
- Bowlers: Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne.
Betting Tips
- Toss Prediction: Teams may opt to bowl first due to the dew factor.
- Top Scorer Prediction: Alex Hales – Sharjah’s batting paradise suits his aggressive style.
- Top Bowler Prediction: Wanindu Hasaranga – Likely to exploit the spin-friendly conditions.
Match Prediction
With both teams packed with firepower, this promises to be a nail-biter. However, given the strength of their all-rounders and the recent form of their key players, the Desert Vipers might have a slight edge over the Sharjah Warriors.
Get ready for an exhilarating game under the lights at Sharjah!
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