Abu Dhabi …
Defending champions Deccan Gladiators once again stamped their authority in the Abu Dhabi T10 by recording an emphatic 37-runs win over debutants New York Strikers in the final of the sixth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium. It was a brilliant show from Deccan Gladiators who had to win the Eliminator against Team Abu Dhabi and then beat Samp Army in the second qualifier on Saturday to reach the final. By winning the final too through disciplined cricket they recorded three victories in a row to display their might in cricket’s shortest format.
New York Strikers who reached the final by topping the points table and beating Samp Army in the first qualifier could not raise their game in the final. Deccan Gladiators had posted 128 for 4 in 10 overs through David Wiese’s unbeaten 43 off just 18 balls with two boundaries and four sixes, His skipper Nicholas Pooran too scored 40 runs off 23 balls with five boundaries and a six. Pooran not only lifted the trophy but also bagged the Player of the tournament award.
Chasing the target, New York Strikers could muster only 91 for 5 in 10 overs against the tight and disciplined bowling led by Josh Little (2 for 4) and Mohammad Hasnain (2 for 14). New York Strikers needed to score at a run rate of 12.80 and they needed a good start. Josh Little gave Deccan Gladiators a good start by clean bowling opener Muhammad Waseem for a duck.
Azam Khan began by hitting Hasnain for a boundary to deep square leg. Hasnain struck again with the fifth ball, taking the valuable wicket of Eoin Morgan. Going for a shot over mid-off, Morgan failed and landed up being caught by Wiese for a duck. With 51 runs needed off the last 12 balls, Little was re-introduced for the ninth over. He too strangled the run flow with his accurate swing and change of pace and also got Rashid Khan out for 8. Hosein hit Zakir Khan’s second delivery of the last over for a six over long-off but the target was unreachable. Deccan Gladiator won by 37 runs.
Player of the Match: David Wiese.
Player of the tournament: Nicholas Pooran
Best UAE player of the tournament: Usman Khan
Best bowler of the tournament: Akeal Hosein
Best batsman of the tournament: Tom Kohler-Cadmore
