NEW DELHI: Desert Vipers pacer David Payne says the team has a straightforward strategy for their upcoming clash against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKRs) - target the big hitters early and take wickets before they can wreak havoc.

In game two of the tournament, ADKR batters tore through the Sharjah Warriorz bowling attack, led by Liam Livingstone's unbeaten 82 off just 38 balls, alongside contributions from former Vipers Alex Hales (32) and Sherfane Rutherford (45), helping the side post a massive 233 for four.

Payne, a left-arm seamer, stressed that striking early and taking wickets will be key to preventing a repeat of that onslaught against the Vipers.

"We have got to look to get them out," he told the Vipers Voices podcast on the eve of Friday's match-up in Sharjah, following a training session at the ICC Academy.

"Within the game, we always talk about how the main way to contain the run-rate in T20 cricket and keeping the score down is (to take) wickets.

"So, we are going to have an attacking mindset of trying to get the wicket of each player. If you look at the names (on the ADKRs roster) they are only going to keep coming so you have got to get them out. And without giving the plans away we will have individual plans for each player.

"I guess the better the player the margin for error with that execution is going to be less, so it is very much about making sure we are as on it as we can be and executing those plans as perfectly as we can."

"We really back our all-round game as the Desert Vipers. I think when we look at the Knight Riders they probably are more weighted in that batting unit, and their top seven or eight batters are all very powerful.

"They could easily post some big scores in this competition, so that will be a really good contest between bat and ball when we are bowling at them.

"We know we are going to have to be on top of things, and we know if we can get a few knocked over early and put them under some pressure then we certainly believe that our batting unit will be able to get on top of their bowlers."

Payne hails Vipers' world-class bowling attack

Payne is part of a well-rounded Vipers bowling lineup, spearheaded by captain Lockie Ferguson and featuring Pakistan's pace sensation Naseem Shah alongside Afghanistan's spin maestro Noor Ahmad.

According to Payne, the key to the team's success will be working together as a cohesive unit, hunting in unison as a pack of bowlers.

"Lockie Ferguson always leads from the front and I know he is big on having a very strong bowling attack in a T20 competition," he said. "I think it is always talked about the batters can win you games and bowlers can win you tournaments and I think that is the probably the theory behind the bowling attack we have here.

"We have got some world-class bowlers. Bringing in Naseem Shah is fantastic and obviously Lockie hopefully will be back in the next game or so from his niggle.

"To have Sam Curran, who is a world-class talent, and Noor Ahmed coming in as a world-class spinner is fantastic.

"The main thing is the bond we always try to create amongst that bowling group, how we work together, we communicate together and that we are a pack out on the field and we are not just individual cricketers.

" I think is the really special thing about this attack."

Confidence is high within the squad according to Payne, and that is thanks, in part at least, to the winning start the team got over the Dubai Capitals, even if he admitted it was not a complete performance.

"I think for any tournament it is important to get off to a good start," he said. "I think it was a bit cagey and a bit scrappy towards the end of the game but I think that shows just how important the first two points can be to set the momentum early.

"If you lose the first game you can easily doubt yourselves quite early so I think we were just really chuffed to get the two points, to get the win, and that was the most important thing.

"It almost did not matter how we did it, especially as the game was against the Dubai Capitals who certainly had one over on us last year. That was a perfect way to start the campaign for us really."