Vipers Voices

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In this episode we hear from the Vipers' Pakistani mystery spinner Usman Tariq, who announced himself with three wickets in Qualifier 1 against MI Emirates to help propel the side to the final.

Usman tells us about how he ended up at the Vipers, his unique bowling style, his meteoric rise over the past year or so, including a stellar spell in the Caribbean Premier League, his international aspirations and much more. It's well worth your time!

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In this episode we speak with Andries Gous, one of the heroes for the team in a 45-run win over MI Emirates in Qualifier 1 in Abu Dhabi.

Andries scored 120 not out as the Vipers, put into bat, scorched their way to 233 for one, with Fahkar Zaman making 69 and Sam Curran an unbeaten 38 from only 12 balls. Andries and Fakhar added 157, a new tournament first wicket record, while Andries' individual score is the highest in tournament history.

MI Emirates responded with 188 for seven to give the Vipers the win and send the team straight through to the final on the 4th of January.

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This time we hear from Director of Cricket Tom Moody.

Tom looks back at the Vipers setting a record for most wins in the league stage of the DP World ILT20 - eight - and forward to the play-off stage with the first assignment being Qualifier 1 against MI Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

He assesses the performances of key performers like Sam Curran, Khuzaima bin Tanveer and Max Holden, and also discusses the arrival of two replacement players - Zafar Gohar and Usman Tariq.

If you want tickets for any of the play-offs or the final then you can buy them at www.tickets.virginmegastore.me/ae/ilt20

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In this episode we hear from Vipers new boy Zafar Gohar, the left-arm spinner who has joined the franchise in place of Noor Ahmad.

Zafar tells us how his joining the Vipers came about, gives us a bit of background about himself and his cricketing journey and tells us about his expectations for the week ahead - and beyond.

If you want tickets for any of the play-offs or the final then you can buy them at www.tickets.virginmegastore.me/ae/ilt20

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In this episode we hear from fast bowling coach Azhar Mahmood after the Vipers became the first side in the history of the DP World ILT20 to win eight matches in the regular season, beating the Sharjah Warriorz by five wickets with three balls to spare at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The Vipers won thanks to a disciplined bowling display as the Warriorz were restricted to 140 for seven. Max Holden then made an unbeaten 65, during the course of which he became the leading run-scorer in the tournament.

22 were needed from the final two overs, but Hassan Nawaz hit three sixes in an unbeaten 25, to remove any fears of a loss going into the post-season play-offs.

The Vipers will now play in Qualifier 1 on December the 30th. Win that and they are straight through to the final on January the 4th; lose it and they have a second route to the final, via Qualifier 2 in Sharjah on January the 2nd.

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In this episode we catch up with wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous.

Andries is on the comeback trail after injuring a calf muscle in the fourth match of the season, against MI Emirates but he’s now close to a return to action and in our conversation, he talks about how he suffered the injury, his rehabilitation, what it’s been like on the sidelines and plenty more.

It’s a chat that’s well worth your time!

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In this episode we catch up with Vipers new boy Jason Roy.

Jason’s feet have barely touched the ground since joining the franchise off the back of a tournament-ending injury to Shimron Hetmyer and, having played back-to-back matches as soon as he arrived in the UAE, he’s now had a chance to draw breath and catch up for a chat with us.

And it’s a terrific chat too, as he reflects on how his joining the Vipers came about, what he’s been up to since the end of the English county season, his unfamiliar role in the middle order, his catch of the season contender, the atmosphere within the Vipers set-up and lots, lots more.

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In this episode we hear from Head Coach James Foster as he reflects on the four-wicket loss to MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium.

The Vipers were well-shackled on a tricky pitch, and after being put into bat they scrambled to 124 for seven, piloted by Dan Lawrence's unbeaten 35 from 34 balls.

In reply, MI Emirates got home with 15 balls in hand, although the Vipers made them work hard for their victory. Dan bowled superbly to take one for 13 in four overs of off-spin, while there were impressive efforts with the ball from Matiullah Khan (two for 18) and Sanjay Pahal (none for 14), both of them bowling for the Vipers for the first time.

James reflects on all those things and plenty more, as well as discussing a calf injury sustained by captain Lockie Ferguson, with Sam Curran taking over leadership duties during the fielding innings.

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In this episode we look back on another win for the team, this time by four wickets against the Sharjah Warriorz at the Dubai International Stadium.

We’ll do that looking back in the company of fast bowler Khuzaima bin Tanveer, who celebrated his birthday in style by taking two wickets, as well as Tom Bruce and Vriitya Aravind, who were together at the crease when the winning run was struck with 37 balls in hand.

Sharjah batted first and were bowled out for 90 as David Payne, named player of the match, took three for 14, and there were only two Warriorz players in double figures.

In reply, the Vipers batting wobbled a little and the side was 30 for three at one stage. But Sam Curran, captaining the side as Lockie Ferguson rested, scored 37 from 31 balls to ease any nerves.

The match also marked the Vipers debut of Jason Roy, who has been drafted into the squad in place of Shimron Hetmyer, with the West Indian batter ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury.

The Vipers now have just two more matches left in the league stage of the tournament and this win has guaranteed the team a top-two finish in that league, which means two potential opportunities to qualify for the final on the 4th of January.

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In this episode we speak with Pakistan opening bat Fakhar Zaman as he gives us a terrific insight into his mindset and what he expects from himself as a player.

Fakhar also speaks at length about how the side will look to bounce back from a first defeat of the season, in the previous match against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders; what it has been like batting with his two opening partners this term, Andries Gous and Max Holden; and what the pitches and conditions have been like for this season’s matches.

Fakhar also talks of his role as a senior professional within the side and assesses the contributions of fast bowlers Khuzaima bin Tanveer and Naseem Shah as well as top-order batter Hassan Nawaz and he discusses the fact that, next up, the Vipers will be facing a Sharjah side that has won its past two matches.

It’s a fantastic conversation, full of fascinating insights.

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