Vipers 48%. Giants 52%.
ILT20|5, match 29
Sunday 13 December 2026, 6:30pm GMT+4Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
| Measure | Vipers | Giants |
|---|---|---|
| XI caps | 2,149T20s between the XI | 2,425T20s between the XI |
| Top-seven average | 29.3T20 batting | 31.8T20 batting |
This is too close to call, with Gulf Giants at 52% and Desert Vipers at 48%. Desert Vipers are stronger on paper by about 7 runs, but that edge comes entirely from bowling: their attack is rated 18.8 runs better than average, while their batting is 6.5 runs better. Gulf Giants have the better batting, rated 18.6 runs better than average, but their bowling is 5 runs worse. The projected first-innings totals reflect that split: 177 for Vipers batting first, 171 for Giants, against a par score of 163.
Gulf Giants' top order averages 28 against left-arm finger spin since 2023, a third below their 42 against all bowling, where Full Member top sevens drop by a tenth. Desert Vipers have Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a left-arm finger spinner, in our XI, and his 13 wickets at an economy of 8.27 in his last 10 T20 matches make him the bowler Gulf Giants' top order will have to manage.
13 wkts, econ 8.27 in the last 10. Rated +4.8 runs a game with the ball.
Rated 4.8 runs better than an average bowler over four overs. He has 13 wickets at an economy of 8.27 in his last 10 T20 matches, and his left-arm finger spin is the main threat to Gulf Giants' top order.
13 wkts, econ 5.56 in the last 10. Rated +2.9 runs a game with the ball.
Rated 2.9 runs better than an average bowler and 1.4 runs better than an average batter. He has 13 wickets at an economy of 5.56 and 132 runs at a strike rate of 220 in his last 10 T20 matches.
400 runs, SR 179, 25 sixes in the last 10. Rated +4.3 runs a game with the bat.
Rated 4.3 runs better than an average batter, the highest in either XI. He has 400 runs at a strike rate of 178.6 in his last 10 T20 matches, with 25 sixes.
295 runs, SR 165, 15 sixes in the last 10. Rated +4.1 runs a game with the bat.
Rated 4.1 runs better than an average batter. He has 295 runs at a strike rate of 164.8 in his last 10 T20 matches, with 15 sixes, giving Gulf Giants' middle order a strong finisher.
6 wkts, econ 11.85 in the last 10. Rated −1.9 runs a game with the ball.
Rated 1.9 runs worse than an average bowler over four overs. He has 6 wickets at an economy of 11.85 in his last 10 T20 matches, a weak point in Gulf Giants' attack.
11 wkts, econ 8.86 in the last 10. Rated −1.7 runs a game with the ball.
Rated 1.7 runs worse than an average bowler. He has 11 wickets at an economy of 8.86 in his last 10 T20 matches, and his form is 10 months old.