Twitter Reactions: Gulf Giants steamroll Desert Vipers to clinch inaugural ILT20 title

A brilliant bowling display from Carlos Brathwaite (3/19) that saw him win the Player of the Match and a terrific knock from Chris Lynn (72* off 50 balls) helped Gulf Giants to clinch the inaugural ILT20 title as they defeated Desert Vipers by seven wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 12.

Gulf Giants won an important toss and chose to bowl first. Desert Vipers' powerplay problems continued in the final as well. Gulf Giants took three wickets of Vipers' top order within the powerplay which left Vipers reeling at 25/3 after 4.3 overs. Vipers lost skipper Colin Munro early after the powerplay as he scored just six runs and the team needed a major partnership.

Wanindu Hasaranga and Sam Billings were at it once again and stitched a 72-run partnership. But after Billings and Hasaranga got out in successive overs, Giants started to make a comeback. The lower order batters contributed a lot and helped Vipers reach a decent total of 146. 

The Gulf Giants' top order came out all guns blazing and started finding boundaries with ease. But Desert Vipers took two quick wickets and tried pulling the match in their favour. However, Chris Lynn made sure that Giants' run chase progressed with ease. He stitched important partnerships with Gerhard Erasmus and Shimron Hetmeyer and stayed right till the end to ensure Giants got the victory. 

Here's how Twitter reacted to the ILT20 final:

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗣 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗜𝗟𝗧𝟮𝟬 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 🤩

With nerves of steel and unmatched determination, the @GulfGiants triumphed in the first-ever #DPWorldILT20 final to become the champions. 🏆#ALeagueApart #DCvGG pic.twitter.com/eY0deqlbcJ

— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) February 12, 2023

Wanindu 🇱🇰🏏 smashes 21 balls Fifty in ILT20 Final 🏆#ILT20 #WaninduHasaranga pic.twitter.com/mHL6PF9ilv

— Tharaka Jayathilaka (@TharakaOfficial) February 12, 2023

Congrats @TC59
Smart Delivery of the Day
Congrats @Wanindu49
Buzz Maker of the Match, Biggest Hit of the Match
Congrats @lynny50
Super 4 of the Match
Congrats @CRBrathwaite26
Player of the Match
Congrats @TC59
Smart Delivery of Season#ILT20 #Final

— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) February 12, 2023

Bhajji with #ILT20 Trophies pic.twitter.com/0wEhbXFQh0

— Shibashis Chatterjee (@Iamshibashis) February 12, 2023

Andy Flower as head coach in T20 Leagues:

Finalist in CPL 2020
Eliminator in PSL 2020
Won PSL 2021
Eliminator in Hundred 2021
Finalist in CPL 2021
Finalist in PSL 2022
Eliminator in IPL 2022
Won Hundred 2022
Won ILT20 2023

— Ishika Pandey (@Ishika_Pandey45) February 12, 2023

The Gulf Giants have clinched the ILT20 2023 tournament.
.
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.#CricketNews #CricketUpdates #DPWorldILT20 #DVvGG #CricTracker pic.twitter.com/JF9tKPsega

— Omar Faruque (@OmarFar46196492) February 12, 2023

Everything orange 🟠🏆#SA20 #ILT20 pic.twitter.com/PbG7trxvro

— Pakistan Super League (@AliAbdullah9584) February 12, 2023

#ILT20 Another T20 tournament that kick started it's journey in 2023 to take this great game of Cricket forward.💐

🏏 Great opportunity for UAE players to showcase their talent.

2023 Champions - @GulfGiants 🏆#DPWorldILT20 #GGvAV pic.twitter.com/5Ya0VhFccM

— Thirumala Sai M (@mtsai4444) February 12, 2023

Gulf Giants win the Inaugural ILT20 title!#GulfGiants #Champions #ILT20 pic.twitter.com/1vm1zqu1nv

— Thimira Navod (@ImThimira07) February 12, 2023

Wanindu Hasaranga In Knock-Outs In ILT20 :

• 31(20) & 3/36(4) In Qualifier 1
• 55(27) & 1/28(4) In Final.

— Krish Sheth (@krishsheth2006) February 12, 2023

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