Final result
Desert Vipers won by 5 wickets
Player of the match: MDE Holden
Result · International League T20
Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers
Result · International League T20
Venue par · 130Chase success · 77%POTM · MDE Holden
Match preview & overview
Desert Vipers make it five from five against Sharjah Warriorz
Desert Vipers beat Sharjah Warriorz by 5 wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 26 December 2025, completing a straightforward chase to extend their perfect ILT20 record against this opponent to five wins from five meetings. Warriorz posted 140/7 batting first, a total that fell 38 runs below the venue's average first-innings score of 178. Vipers were nervy in the powerplay, losing 2 wickets for 28 runs, but their middle overs were decisive: 69 runs and only 2 more wickets fell between overs seven and fifteen. MDE Holden took the Player of the Match award. The result keeps the Warriorz without a single win in this rivalry.
Sharjah's innings had a solid enough foundation. The powerplay brought 45 runs at the cost of 2 wickets, slightly above the ground's powerplay average of 42 runs. The middle phase, however, produced only 56 runs for 3 wickets, which left the batting side reliant on a strong finish. The death overs (overs 16-20) yielded 39 runs for 2 wickets. That put the final total at 140/7, competitive on most grounds but modest here.
Pitch report & venue insights
Cricket Stadium, Sector-16 — 13-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2019. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
13
T20 matches hosted
130
Avg 1st-innings score
119
Avg 2nd-innings score
77%
Chase success rate
36
Avg powerplay runs
46%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Vipers complete perfect head-to-head record
Desert Vipers have now beaten Sharjah Warriorz in all five of their ILT20 meetings. Three of those wins came by margins of 7 wickets, 8 wickets, and 10 wickets respectively, suggesting this has rarely been a close contest.
Angle 02
Warriorz below the venue average first-innings score
Angle 03
Vipers won the middle overs to seal the chase
Angle 04
Toss decision aligned with venue trends
Angle 05
MDE Holden named Player of the Match
Key players
Players who decided it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Player performance markets may offer more value than outright result lines given Desert Vipers' lopsided head-to-head record, which could be reflected in tight outright pricing.
- Top batter markets are worth considering in the context of Sharjah's venue average of 178 first-innings runs: games here tend to produce runs, particularly in the middle overs.
- The toss has a meaningful effect at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, where teams electing to field have done so 57 per cent of the time and the chase success rate sits at 60 per cent across 165 matches.
- In a series where the Warriorz have yet to win in five attempts, first-innings total markets may price in a competitive Sharjah score that the data suggests could be an overestimate.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers
Who won the Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz ILT20 match on 26 December 2025?
Desert Vipers won by 5 wickets. Chasing Sharjah Warriorz's total of 140/7, the Vipers reached 144/5 to complete the chase. MDE Holden was named Player of the Match.
What is the head-to-head record between Desert Vipers and Sharjah Warriorz?
Desert Vipers lead the head-to-head 5-0. All five meetings have taken place in 2025, and Sharjah Warriorz have yet to win any of them. Three of the Vipers' victories came by margins of 7, 8, and 10 wickets.
Where to watch ILT20 matches in the UK?
ILT20 coverage in the United Kingdom is available via Sky Sports Cricket. Subscribers can also stream matches through Sky Go or a NOW TV day pass. Check the Sky Sports schedule for exact broadcast times, converting UAE time (UTC+4) to UK local time.
What is the Sharjah Cricket Stadium's average first-innings score?
Across 165 T20 matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the average first-innings score is 178 runs. The average second-innings score is 164, and the chase success rate at the venue is 60 per cent.
What was the Sharjah Warriorz's recent form going into this match?
Sharjah Warriorz had won two and lost three of their previous five ILT20 fixtures in 2025, with defeats against Dubai Capitals (twice) and Desert Vipers. Their wins came against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Gulf Giants.
How did the toss affect the result at Sharjah?
Desert Vipers won the toss and chose to field, which aligns with the venue's historical trend: teams elect to field 57 per cent of the time at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The chase success rate of 60 per cent across 165 matches at the ground meant conditions favoured the decision, and the Vipers duly chased down 141.
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