GG vs DV

10:04 PM local time, 11:34 PM IST: So, a clinical win for Desert Vipers to finish tonight's proceedings! Tomorrow, it is Abu Dhabi Knight Riders hosting Dubai Capitals at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The first ball will be bowled at 6:30 PM local time (8:00 PM IST). Do not forget to join us for that, friends! This is the pair of Sourabh and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Khuzaima Bin Tanvir is the Player Of The Match tonight for his exceptional spell of 4/10, here are his words: "I think the plan was simple. Was just going for swing, the pitch was supportive. Was going for the wickets and that is what I got. Gurbaz's wicket (on which one he liked best). If you ask any bowler what do you like, they are going to for batting, every bowler likes their batting."

Lockie Ferguson (Desert Vipers captain): "I've had good spells, but not as good as Khuzaima's today! He swung the ball both ways, and made the ball talk! He has played a lot of cricket leading up to here and he looks in rhythm. Nice to get over the line a little bit earlier, nice to see Max Holden and Sam Curran get the job done. I'm all good!" 

James Vince (Gulf Giants captain): "He (Khuzaima) bowled really well, credit to him. As batters you look at what you could have done differenly or limit it to one or two wickets. I thought we did really well to get up to 158. Dawson was exceptional in the end and Mayers playing his first game had an impact and Asif too. Felt it was the best pitch we have played on, we were a few under par. With the ball, we needed early wickets with the new ball. Got one early but were not able to contian them and build pressure. Probably the first game of the tournament when we were outplayed. It (the dew) does make a difference, the ball tends to skip on to the bat in the second half but it is not the be all and end all. As I said, we were outplayed today."

9:49 PM local time, 11:19 PM IST: Desert Vipers win by 8 wickets with 19 balls to spare!

Sam Curran 67* (43) | Khuzaima Bin Tanvir - 4/10 (4)
Liam Dawson 38* (14) | Chris Wood - 1/27 (4)

Desert Vipers have now won 6 matches in a row against Gulf Giants! But this top-of-the-table clash did not live up to expectation. 

Gulf Giants did try and make a match of it, but the decisions to substitute Azmatullah Omarzai and not bowl Aayan Afzal Khan, were surprising, to say the least! 

Chris Wood got the first wicket rather quickly and a run out followed, but that was just about it for the Giants in this innings! Only 2 overs of spin was bowled, but the rest of the overs from the pacers weren't venomous enough. 

Max Holden and Sam Curran had a field day with the bat, scoring their respective half-centuries and staying not out. They played with consummate ease and did not let the opposition bowling settle into rhythm at any stage. 

So with this win, the Vipers move to 10 points and stay on top with an improved net run rate. But James Vince and the Giants, who were good in every game they played till this one, have some thinking to do about their effort tonight in the field and with the ball. 

16.5 Nuwan Thushara to Sam Curran, DESERT VIPERS MAKE IT 5 OUT OF 5! Full at the stumps, Curran knocks it down to long on and they jog across for the final run. A comprehensive win for the table toppers and they have shown why they are the team to beat in this tournament. Handshakes all around, plenty of smiles in the Vipers' camp while the Giants look deflated.

16.1 Nuwan Thushara to Max Holden, pace off full at the stumps, Holden drags it to mid-wicket off the inside half of the bat from the front foot, another two

Nuwan Thushara [3.0-0-34-0] comes back into the attack.

So, we have a 17th over! But, it's cruise-control mode on for the Vipers. Has been quite a dominant run chase, this one! 

15.6 Mark Adair to Max Holden, back of a length outside off, Holden allows it to come before caressing it to deep backward point for a single. Keeps the strike as well

15.6 Mark Adair to Max Holden, too wide, slower again but ends up bowling it outside the tramline. Holden was coming forward but leaves it on line