WATCH: Alex Hales hits first century of ILT20 as Desert Vipers defeat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

The ninth game of the ongoing International League T20 (ILT20) between the Desert Vipers and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders was a thrilling contest in which the Vipers came out on top. At the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Knight Riders won the toss and decided to bowl first.

This choice was successful as they got rid of opener Rohan Mustafa for only 8 in the first over. Vipers, on the other hand, didn’t let up and launched a counterattack on the Knight Riders. Alex Hales of England was the star of the innings, scoring 110 runs off just 59 deliveries, including seven fours and six sixes.

New Zealander Colin Munro, who scored 56 off of 41 balls, gave him strong support. The Vipers set a lofty target of 219/4, which proved to be too much for the Sunil Narine-led team, riding on brilliant knocks from Hales and Munro.

Here is Alex Hales’ innings

The Knight Riders got off to a bad start in the chase and were never able to recover. They were unable to match the Vipers’ scoring pace and were bundled out for 108 runs, losing the game by 111 runs. The Knight Riders’ top scorer was power-hitter Andre Russell, who hit 57 off 29 balls, but his efforts were in vain as his team failed to cross the finish line.

The Vipers’ bowlers took wickets at regular intervals, preventing the Knight Riders from gaining momentum. Their fielding was also excellent, with several spectacular catches, which hampered the Knight Riders’ chase. Sheldon Cottrell and Wanindu Hasaranga were the most successful bowlers for the Vipers, with figures of 3/14 and 2/21, respectively.

Hales was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding batting performance. He set the tone for the Vipers’ innings and was the driving force behind their high total. Having won all of their three games so far, the Desert Vipers currently stand at the top of the points table.