Capitals beat Vipers to take maiden ILT20 title

Dubai Capitals beat table-topping Desert Vipers by four wickets to win the final of the 2025 International League T20.

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza blazed 34 from 12 balls, including a six and four to finish the match, as the Capitals took their maiden title.

Having been set 190 to win, Capitals lost three of their top-order for single figures, including veteran David Warner, bowled by England seamer David Payne for four, and captain Sam Billings for six.

Shai Hope hit 43 from the top of the order before he was caught by Dan Lawrence off the bowling of Sam Curran, then West Indies team-mate Rovman Powell took over, blasting 63 from 38.

Powell was the last Capitals wicket to fall, hitting Nathan Sowter's delivery to Payne at the end of the 18th over, but Raza finished the match in style.

Vipers were put into bat by their opponents and lost big-hitting openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Alex Hales for five runs apiece, while Lawrence was dismissed for 10 to leave his side 75-3 in the 10th over.

Middlesex batter Max Holden struck 76 from 51, adding 47 with Sam Curran, their partnership ending when Holden was caught by Scott Kuggeleijn off Raza's delivery.

Curran pushed on, hitting an unbeaten 62 off 33 as he and Azam Khan made a stand of 67, but his efforts proved not to be enough.

Vipers have now lost two of the tournament's three finals, while Capitals take the trophy after losing last year's final to MI Emirates.

Meanwhile Warner and Billings take winners medals having been defeated in the final of the Big Bash with Sydney Thunder two weeks ago.