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It’s a happy podcast this time as we have reaction after the Vipers' second win of this season's DP World ILT20, one secured by the narrowest of margins - by two wickets off the final ball in an absolute thriller against MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium.

We hear from head coach James Foster and also UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer, who took a game-changing catch to dismiss MI Emirates captain Nicholas Pooran.

The result lifts the Vipers off the bottom of the table but it really couldn’t be any closer at the halfway point of the group stage as the team is one of four sides on the same number of points – four, with Sharjah warriors on six and Mi Emirates on eight. It really does mean it’s all to play for with finals spots very much up for grabs.

This was undoubtedly the match of the tournament and if you’d like to sample some Vipers excitement first-hand then it couldn’t be easier to do so. You can get your tickets at the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae and at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE, with the Vipers next match is against the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday February the 1st.

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It’s time to hear from the Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver as we build up to the franchise’s Sustainability Match, against the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday February the 3rd.

The match is a first for the Vipers and for the DP World ILT20 as it’s been put in place to highlight all that the Vipers are doing to raise awareness of the issues of sustainability and, more broadly, the climate crisis.

There’ll be a whole range of activities and initiatives around the day and Phil tells us all about them in this interview.

First and foremost, the plan is to turn the stadium green, literally and metaphorically, on the day, with recycling, upcycling and activities highlighting sustainability inside and outside the venue.

Fans are also going to be given green shirts to wear, the Vipers will be playing in green, and people can also bring in their old and unwanted sports kit so that they can be put to good use by those who need them.

And if you fancy getting involved in the day by attending the match – or any Vipers match this season, for that matter – it couldn’t be easier to get hold of tickets. You can do so by visiting the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae – or going to any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.

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In this episode we reflect upon the match against the Sharjah Warriors at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, a game that saw the Vipers slip to a third defeat in four this season, going down narrowly by seven runs.

We hear from Luke Wood, who picked up three wickets in his first outing of the campaign and there’s also reaction from top-scorer Alex Hales, who’s 61 from 40 balls wasn’t quite enough to get the side over the line.

The result leaves the Vipers bottom of the six-team table but with six matches still to play and just two points between sides six to two there’s still plenty to play for with finals spots up for grabs.

And the Vipers have the chance to put their tough start to the tournament behind them starting on Tuesday the 30th of January when the side is next in action, against MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday the 30th of January.

And remember tickets are available for that match and all that the Vipers are set to play. You can buy them at the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae and at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.

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In this episode, we look back on the side’s third match of the tournament, against the Abu Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi.

The Knight Riders repeated the result of the previous meeting between the two sides six days earlier by winning by six wickets, this time with 14 balls to spare.

We hear from Vipers batter Sherfane Rutherford, who made 28 from 21 balls, and also fast bowling coach Azhar Mahmood. Both were frustrated at the result and the performance but know there’s no point in dwelling on it given the matches are coming thick and fast now with another clash just 24 hours after the Knight Riders match, against the Sharjah Warriors in Sharjah.

And if you want to catch any of the Vipers matches live then buying tickets couldn’t be easier. You can do so via the league’s website, www.ilt20.ae and also at any Virgin Megastore in the UAE.

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It’s time to look forward to the next match on the Vipers’ schedule, the match against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday afternoon.

And to that, we are in the company of head coach James Foster.

We chatted with James on Thursday and in a wide-ranging conversation he not only looked ahead to that match against the Knight Riders, a repeat of the side’s opening game of the season, but also back to the victory over the Gulf Giants and plenty more besides.

James talks about the impact of the arrival of the Pakistan players – Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan – on the squad, the role of the toss and the impact of the super sub rule on the tournament.

There’s plenty of meat on the bone there and it’s an interview you won’t want to miss.

And remember you can buy your tickets for all Vipers matches, starting with that match against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, at the ILT20 website and also at all Virgin Megastores across the UAE.

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This time we catch up with Tymal Mills, the left-arm fast bowler who’s already made a significant impact for the Vipers in this edition of the tournament.

Tymal talks to us about a range of subjects, looking back on the victory of the Gulf Giants in the side’s second match of the tournament, forward to match three against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, and plenty more besides.

We chat all things left-arm given there are five left-armers battling for spots in the starting line-up, we talk pitches, conditions, the value of the toss, the super sub rule – and Tymal has a very interesting take on that – and we also speak about what he does outside of cricket.

It’s a thoroughly engaging conversation and it’s coming up shortly here on Vipers Voices.

And remember you can buy your tickets for all Vipers matches, starting with the side’s next outing against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday the 27th of January at the ILT20 website and also at all Virgin Megastores across the UAE.

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We’re reacting to positive news as the Vipers are off the mark for the season with a six-wicket win with eight balls to spare against the Gulf Giants, the side that beat the Vipers in last year’s final.

 
It was a match that saw Pakistan trio Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan all debut for the franchise and all played roles in the victory, while Wanindu Hasaranga produced a player-of-the-match performance with 1 for 26 and 42 from 19 balls.

Coming up we hear from Vipers captain Colin Munro as he gives us his views on the team’s performance that means with just seven matches gone in the tournament, every side has now won at least one game and lost one game.

 

If you want to watch any Vipers matches this season then it couldn’t be easier to buy tickets.

You can do so via the ILT20 website or at any Virgin Megastore in the UAE.

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This episode is what you might call a Pakistan special as we chat to Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan, part of the four-man contingent from that country who are bolstering the Vipers ranks for this second edition of the DP World ILT20.

Amir played in the first match of the season against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and now Shadab is in Dubai as well, along with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Azam Khan.

We caught up with Amir and Shadab during a media interaction with local and international journalists and, as you’ll hear from the chat, they were in relaxed mood ahead of the Vipers next match of the tournament, against the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday January the 24th.

Talking of which, tickets for that clash, a repeat of the 2023 final, and all other Vipers matches this season, are available via the ILT20 website, www.ilt20.ae and also at all Virgin Megastores in the UAE.

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This really is an episode with a difference as we begin the countdown to a first for the Vipers and a first for the DP World ILT20 – a game on February the 3rd against defending champions the Gulf Giants that’s being christened the Sustainability Match, aimed at highlighting all the things the Vipers are doing to raise the issues of climate change and recycling.

And to let us know what it’s all about and what’s planned, we hear from the Desert Vipers Sustainability Manager Ben Hardy-Jones, who gives us all the details – which include a change in the colour of the team’s playing strip for the day and opportunities for fans to get involved.

It’s an exciting innovation and hopefully, once you’ve listened to what Ben has to say, you’ll be enthused about it too – and if you’re in the UAE you’ll be keen to come along and play your part on the day.

Tickets for all Vipers matches, not just the sustainability match but every game the team is playing this season, starting with the next one – like the Sustainability Match, against the Gulf Giants, on Wednesday January the 24th, are on sale and can be purchased via the ILT20 website or at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.

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We reflect on the Desert Vipers’ first match of season two of the DP World ILT20.

The Vipers were defeated by the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by six wickets with 14 balls to spare at the Dubai International Stadium and to talk us through what went wrong we have an interview with Director of Cricket Tom Moody.

We’ll also hear from Adam Hose, who top-scored for the Vipers with 45 from 30 balls and he, like Tom, offers an honest assessment of the side’s performance.

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