Abu Dhabi Knight Riders swept to a comprehensive six-wicket win over Desert Vipers in ILT20 with Bollywood superstar and team owner, Shah Rukh Khan, watching from the stands at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batsman Andries Gous hit an unbeaten 95 runs off 50 balls to lead Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to their win. Gous hit five boundaries and seven sixes.

His 85 runs partnership in 47 balls for the second wicket with Michael-Kyle Pepper, and his 71 runs stand in 43 balls for the fourth wicket with Laurie Evans ensured his team an easy win with 14 balls to spare.

Earlier, Knight Riders restricted Desert Vipers to 164 for 8 through some tight bowling led by their skipper Narine (2 for 23) and Ali Khan’s 3 for 29.

Adam Hose top scored with 45 runs off 30 balls after his skipper Colin Munro hit a quick 22 in 12 balls. Vipers would not have crossed the 150 mark if not for Wanindu Hasaranga (24) and Hose’s 57 runs partnership off 40 balls for the fourth wicket.

“It is good to get off to a winning start. Ali (Khan) bowled well and the way the batters batted was good. The manner in which Gous played was brilliant,” skipper Narine said.

“When the ‘Big Boss’ (Shah Rukh Khan) is there, you want to win. He doesn’t come for many games. Chasing down that total gives us huge encouragement.”

Meanwhile, Colin Munro, skipper of Desert Vipers, was disappointed with the result.

“I thought we were probably 20 short, had we got 180, it would have been a different story,” he said.

“Ali Khan bowled really well in the death. A new strip, it’s a chasing ground. Little bit two-paced, got better to bat on with the older ball.”

He then went on to sportingly hail Gous’s knock.

“Gous targeted the short side of the boundary and got a lot of sixes. Credit to him, he played really well,” Munro said.

Player of the match was Andries Gous.