MI Emirates continued their winning surge in DP World ILT20 Season 4, handing table-toppers Desert Vipers a four-wicket defeat at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, with Shakib Al Hasan delivering a match-winning all-round show.

The win,  MI Emirates’ third in a row, lifts them back to second place on the points table.

On a tricky surface that rewarded patience and precision, Shakib set the tone with the ball, finishing with an outstanding 2 for 14, strangling the Vipers’ middle order and keeping the total well below par.

Desert Vipers could only manage 124/7, despite a gritty 35 off 34 balls from Dan Lawrence. Zahoor Khan (2 for 17) applied the squeeze at the death, while MI’s bowlers ensured boundaries were hard to come by all night.

The chase wasn’t without drama. MI Emirates stumbled early, slipping to 35/2 in the powerplay as Jonny Bairstow and Muhammad Waseem departed cheaply. The pressure continued through the middle overs, with wickets falling regularly.

Enter Kieron Pollard.

The skipper changed the game in the 15th over, smashing two towering sixes off Qais Ahmad to swing momentum firmly MI’s way. Pollard’s brisk 26 off 15 balls broke the back of the chase.

After Pollard’s dismissal, Shakib stayed ice-cool, anchoring the innings before striking the winning boundary to seal victory with 15 balls to spare, finishing on 17 off 25.

Earlier, the Vipers’ bowlers kept things tight. David Payne and Lockie Ferguson struck early, while Qais Ahmad and Dan Lawrence applied pressure in the middle overs. But MI’s experience and composure proved decisive.

What they said

Player of the Match Shakib Al Hasan said, “It was a surface that suited the spinners, and the focus was on hitting the right areas. Batting wasn’t easy either, so someone needed to anchor the chase. I was happy to do that.”

Vipers stand-in skipper Sam Curran added, “It was a tough, low-scoring surface. MI Emirates have high-quality spinners, and that made the difference.”

Brief scores

MI Emirates beat Desert Vipers by four wickets

• Desert Vipers: 124/7 (Dan Lawrence 35, Shakib Al Hasan 2/14, Zahoor Khan 2/17)
• MI Emirates: 128/6 in 17.3 overs (Kieron Pollard 26, Shakib Al Hasan 17)

Player of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan