• Alex Hales smashed the first century of the International League T20 2023.

  • Riding on Hales' knock, Desert Vipers defeated Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 111 runs.

WATCH: Alex Hales becomes first centurion of ILT20; hammers 110 off just 59 balls
Alex Hales hits first ton of ILT20 2023 (Image Source: Twitter)

The ninth match of the ongoing International League T20 (ILT20) between Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Desert Vipers was a high-voltage encounter where the Vipers managed to grab a massive victory.

The Knight Riders won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, and the decision paid off well as they dismissed opener Rohan Mustafa for just 8 in the first over. However, Vipers didn’t lose momentum and counter-attacked the Knight Riders.

England batter Alex Hales was the star of the innings, smashing a brilliant 110 off 59 deliveries, with the help of 7 fours and 6 sixes. He was well supported by New Zealander Colin Munro, who scored 56 off 41 balls. Riding on Hales and Munro’s splendid knocks, the Vipers set a formidable target of 219/4, which proved to be too much for the Sunil Narine-led side.

Here is the video:

In the chase, the Knight Riders got off to a poor start and were never able to recover. They could not keep up with the scoring pace set by the Vipers and were bundled out for just 108, losing the contest by 111 runs. Power-hitter Andre Russell was the top scorer for the Knight Riders with 57 off 29 balls, but his efforts were not enough to take his side over the finish line.

The Vipers’ bowlers took wickets at regular intervals and never allowed the Knight Riders to build any momentum. Their fielding was also top-notch, with quite a few spectacular catches being taken, which further dented the Knight Riders’ chase. For the Vipers, Sheldon Cottrell and Wanindu Hasaranga were the most successful bowlers, returning with figures of 3/14 and 2/21, respectively.

Hales was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his exceptional performance with the bat. He set the tone for the Vipers’ innings and was the main reason for their strong total.

TAGS:

CATEGORY: Alex Hales ILT20 Video

For latest cricket news and updates, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.

About the Author:
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.