KnightRiders vs Vipers: 17th Match, ILT20 2025 – Full Match Report and Highlights

That KnightRiders (ADKR) versus Desert Vipers (DV) game, the 17th in the International League T20 2025, was a real nail-biter! It went down at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025, and the KnightRiders squeezed out a win against the Vipers by a single run. Seriously close! Both teams batted and bowled great, but some smart moves and big hits from guys like Liam Livingstone and Andre Russell really made a difference.

Quick Recap

The Abu Dhabi KnightRiders put up a good score of 181/5 in their 20 overs, mainly thanks to Liam Livingstone who smashed 76 off 48 balls. The Vipers almost caught them, ending up at 180/6 trying to chase 182. That one-run win shows how tight T20 games can be. It was intense.

Jason Holder was leading the KnightRiders, with Lockie Ferguson in charge for the Desert Vipers. The Vipers won the toss and decided to field first, which seemed like a good idea considering the Abu Dhabi pitch.

Top Batsmen

Abu Dhabi KnightRiders

Livingstone really held the KnightRiders together, scoring 76 off 48 balls, hitting 6 fours and 3 massive sixes. He scored fast and earned himself Man of the Match. He sped things up in the middle, giving KnightRiders the boost they needed to set a tough target.

Alishan Sharafu also played well, getting 39 off 35 balls, and helping Livingstone a lot. He kept his cool under pressure and kept the runs ticking during the last part of their innings.

Alex Hales chipped in too, hitting 25 off 18, and Sherfane Rutherford was unbeaten on 24 from 14 balls, finishing things off nicely. Michael Pepper also threw in a quick 4 off 3 early on, while Andre Russell made a not-out 2 off 1 ball, making sure KnightRiders ended at 181/5.

Desert Vipers

The Vipers started strong, with Max Holden hitting a fast 52 off 43 balls, and Fakhar Zaman scoring 44 off 32. Both kept the Vipers in with a shot throughout the innings.

Hasan Nawaz scored a quick 23, and Sam Curran made 11. Still, the Vipers just couldn’t quite catch up. Dan Lawrence remained not out on 11, and Shimron Hetmyer scored 7, but it wasn’t enough, as they finished at 180/6.

Bowling Standouts

Abu Dhabi KnightRiders

The KnightRiders bowlers were key in keeping their score safe. Andre Russell was their best bowler, getting 2 wickets for only 16 runs in 3 overs. His aggressive bowling changed the game for KnightRiders when it mattered most.

Jason Holder and Ajay Kumar also got some big wickets. Holder took 1 for 28, and Kumar got 2 for 47. Together, the KnightRiders’ bowling made sure the Vipers felt the pressure.

Desert Vipers

The Vipers’ bowlers began well, with Lockie Ferguson grabbing 3 wickets for 34 runs, shaking up the KnightRiders’ top order. Khuzaima Tanveer and Sam Curran also picked up wickets, handing Vipers some important moments. Tanveer got rid of Phil Salt early on, while Curran took out Alishan Sharafu at a crucial point.

How the Game Went

It went back and forth. The Vipers got some early wickets, putting the KnightRiders under pressure, but Livingstone hit back hard and got them back on track. They scored over 50 in the first 5 overs. The middle overs saw some great batting between Livingstone and Sharafu, which helped them get a good score.

When the Vipers batted, Max Holden and Fakhar Zaman started really well, with a 97-run partnership for the first wicket. But then Andre Russell, Ajay Kumar, and Jason Holder got some wickets, keeping KnightRiders in the game. In the last over, the Vipers needed 3 to win, but the KnightRiders held their nerve and won by one run.

Some DRS calls and subs had an impact too. Fakhar Zaman replaced Noor Ahmad for Vipers, and Olly Stone came in for KnightRiders’ Alex Hales later on, which both shifted things a bit.

Top Players

Livingstone was the star. He was great with the bat and handled the pressure.

Andre Russell also deserves a shout-out – he scored runs fast and took 2 important wickets. For the Vipers, Lockie Ferguson’s 3 wickets also helped keep the game close till the very end.

How the Teams Played

KnightRiders’ Batting: They tried to score big early on. Livingstone was super important in the middle, keeping the runs coming.

Vipers’ Bowling: Ferguson got some early wickets, but ADKR was still able to build partnerships.

Fielding: Both teams gave away runs. KnightRiders gave away 11 runs and Vipers 14 runs.

Subs: The teams were able to change things up based on how the game was going.

In Conclusion

The KnightRiders versus Vipers game was an exciting T20 match. The KnightRiders won by one run because they batted well together. Liam Livingstone and Andre Russell really stood out.

Max Holden, Fakhar Zaman, and Lockie Ferguson played well for the Desert Vipers, but the team just missed out. It shows how close T20 cricket can be! That’s why ILT20 is getting more popular.