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In this episode we speak with Head Coach James Foster to preview the final league match of the campaign against the Dubai Capitals, in Sharjah on Monday evening, the 3rd of February.

The Vipers are already assured of top spot in the six-team league table so it’s a case now of seeing if another victory can be chalked up ahead of the play-offs, which begin just two days later with the Vipers facing a Qualifier against the second-placed side for the right to go straight through to the final four days later.

James has overseen a terrific campaign so far with seven wins from nine matches – and another win against the Capitals would see the side create history as no side has ever won eight matches in the regular season of the DP World ILT20.

James talks about that and tells us whether there are any fitness concerns within the squad leading into the final week of the tournament.

The Head Coach discusses the lack of jeopardy for the Vipers going into the Capitals match and also reflects on the need to find the sweet spot in that game between, on the one hand, providing players with opportunities ahead of the business end of the competition while, on the other, looking to maintain the momentum that the Vipers have created through winning the majority of their matches.

James talks about the importance of the win over the Gulf Giants following the heavy loss to MI Emirates and he reflects upon Azam Khan’s search for his best form as the destructive Pakistan batter aims for a major contribution.

James speaks, too, about whether there’s a need to keep the players in the here and now rather than let minds wander to the Qualifier at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday – with the side that wins that game booking their place in the final.

If you want tickets for the Vipers’ match against the Capitals or that Qualifier, you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

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In this episode we begin the build-up to the Vipers’ final match of the regular season, a meeting with the Dubai Capitals at the Sharjah Stadium on Monday the 3rd of February – and we do that in the company of left-arm fast bowler Luke Wood. 

Luke has been absent from the side for the past five matches – and coming up he explains why. He also chats about his catching and how he reaches such a high level in the field, the season so far and the match against the Capitals and it’s a thoroughly engaging conversation you won’t want to miss.

If you want tickets for the Vipers’ match against the Capitals or the Qualifier for the final, where the Vipers will face the other side to finish in the top two, in Dubai on Wednesday the 5th of February, you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

The final will take place in Dubai on Sunday the 9th of February and fingers crossed the Vipers can make it that far – and this season lift the silverware.

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It’s happy days for the Vipers as not only have the team returned to winning ways with a five-wicket win over the Gulf Giants in Dubai, but in doing so they’ve confirmed their spot in the top two of the league stage and so guaranteed they have two chances to qualify for the final.

The team impressed with the ball against the 2023 champions but it took a classy debut innings of 70 not out from 54 balls by Max Holden to see the team over the line with an over in hand.

Coming up we hear from Max as he talks us through what was a thoroughly impressive first appearance in the tournament for the left-hander. And we also hear from players of the match Wanindu Hasaranga, who produced yet another incredible display with the ball, taking three for 10.

The Vipers now have just one match left in the league stage of the tournament, against the Dubai Capitals in Sharjah on Monday the 3rd of February, ahead of a match against as yet unknown opponents in the qualifier two days later in Dubai. If you want tickets for either of those matches, or any that remain in the tournament then you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

The final – and let’s hope the Vipers can make it again this season after finishing as runners-up in the inaugural event in 2023 – will take place in Dubai on Sunday the 9th of February.

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This time we’re looking back on a night to forget for the Vipers as the side slipped to a 154-run defeat at the hands of MI Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

It was the second-heaviest loss in the history of the tournament, eclipsed only by the Vipers’ 157-run loss to the same opponents in Sharjah in 2023. The crumb of comfort is that after that previous loss, the Vipers reached the final. Let’s hope history repeats itself in 2025!

We hear from bowling coach Carl Crowe as he helps us pick apart the reverse, and we also have something positive on this episode too, as we speak with Tom Moody, the Vipers Director of Cricket to reflect upon the selection of Wanindu Hasaranga in the International Cricket Council’s men’s T20 International Team of the Year.

By being named in that side, Wanindu has become the only player to feature in both the ODI and T20I teams and Tom reflects on the qualities of the Sri Lanka leg-spinner, who has already been in fine form again for the Vipers this season.

The franchise remains comfortably top of the six-team DP World ILT20 table with two matches to play in the regular season and the next match is a repeat of the 2023 final, against the Gulf Giants in Dubai, on Wednesday the 29th of January.

If you want tickets for that game, or any the Vipers are playing this year, then you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

The Vipers’ two remaining matches in the regular season are split between Dubai and Sharjah, with the final game of the league stage in Sharjah against the Dubai Capitals on Monday the 3rd of February. The final is then set to take place in Dubai six days later.

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We’re reflecting on a sixth win in seven matches for the Vipers as the side secured back-to-back wins against the Sharjah Warriorz.

After a ten-wicket win in Dubai, this time it was an eight wicket win with 31 balls to spare.

We hear from Sam Curran, standing in as captain for Lockie Ferguson, who scored an unbeaten 54 in only 34 balls, and also Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, the UAE fast bowler, who made his debut and took four for 22, winning the player of the match award for his efforts.

The Vipers’ win cements the team’s position at the top of the league table and it appears as though they are nailed on for the play-offs. It also looks likely that one further win will all but guarantee a top-two finish in the group stage, providing two chances to qualify for the final, in Dubai on the 9th of February.

The Vipers’ next match is against MI Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Monday the 27th of January and if you want tickets for that game, or any the Vipers are playing this year, then you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

The Vipers’ three remaining matches in the regular season are split between the tournament’s three venues – Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

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This is a special episode because we’re joined by head coach James Foster to celebrate the inclusion of two Vipers players – batter Sherfane Rutherford and spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga – in the ICC Men’s One-Day International Team of the Year.

It’s a huge achievement by both players and a source of pride for the Vipers as both men have been part of the franchise since the start of the DP World ILT20 so everyone connected with the team has been able to follow their upward trajectories with a feeling of immense pleasure.

In addition to discussing Sherfane and Wanindu, James also talks to us about the season so far and how there’ll be no complacency despite the fact the team has won five of its first six matches of the campaign.

Incidentally, if you want tickets for any Vipers match this year then you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

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This is an episode with a difference as we hear from Hanish Bhatt, the owner of PALMFIT, the company that produces the Vipers’ clothing.

That might sound like a very dry topic but it’s anything but as Hanish’s company makes the kit used by the players and staff from recycled material, in keeping with the Vipers’ quest to be one of the most sustainable sports teams in the world.

It’s a fascinating view behind the curtain at one aspect of what makes a team tick!

The Vipers’ next match is against the Sharjah Warriorz in Sharjah on Saturday the 25th of January, a day game starting at 2pm, and If you want tickets for that match, or any the Vipers are playing this year, then you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

The Vipers’ four remaining matches in the regular season are split between the tournament’s three venues – Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi – so why not go on line and catch yourself a slice of the action this season. The final is due to be played at the Dubai International Stadium on February the 9th so let’s hope the team can go all the way!

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This time we’re looking back on history as the Vipers secured the first-ever 10-wicket win in the history of the tournament, beating the Sharjah Warriorz at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday night.

We hear from opening batter Fakhar Zaman, who blitzed an unbeaten 71 in the successful chase, Head Coach James Foster and also fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who provides his thoughts on the action in Urdu after taking four for 24 to secure the player of the match award.

The Vipers’ next match is against the same opposition, the Sharjah Warriorz, this time in Sharjah, on Saturday the 25th of January, and If you want tickets for that match, or any the Vipers are playing this year then you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

The Vipers’ four remaining matches in the regular season are sploit between the tournament’s three venues – Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi – and the final is set for Dubai on Sunday the 9th of February, so why not go on line and catch yourself a slice of the action this season.

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This time we’re reflecting on the Vipers’ first disappointing day of this year’s tournament as the side went down to a six-wicket loss to the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday night.

It was a loss that followed four wins in a row to start the DP World ILT20 and to review it we’re joined by Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody..

The positive aspect about the defeat is that the players have the opportunity to make up for it very soon afterwards because the next match is just 48 hours later, against the Sharjah Warriorz, again at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday the 22nd of January.

If you want tickets for that match, or any the Vipers are playing this year then you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

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Although it’s still early days in the tournament, things keep getting better and better for the Vipers as the side made it four wins from four against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and we reflect on that victory in this episode.

It was a convincing 53-run win at the Dubai International Stadium in the side’s annual Sustainability Match, an occasion when the Vipers wear green to highlight the causes of recycling and the climate emergency that are close to the heart of the franchise.

Coming up we hear from Nathan Sowter, who finished with three wickets, a catch and a run-out, Alex Hales, who top-scored with 58 and Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver, who reflects on the success of the Sustainability Match.

The next match, against the Dubai Capitals at the same venue, the Dubai International Stadium, is on Monday the 20th of January.

If you want tickets for that match, or any the Vipers are playing this year then you can purchase them using the link below the podcast description for this episode or at the DP World ILT20’s own website.

The thumbnail photo for this podcast is Dan Lawrence's remarkable flick for six during his innings of 49; if you haven't seen video of it yet then find it!

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