ABU DHABI: Nicholas Pooran and Tom Kohler-Codmore’s fiery opening partnership powered Deccan Gladiators to a thumping ten-wicket victory over Bangla Tigers in the Eliminator of Abu Dhabi T10 League at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Deccan Gladiators will face Morrisville Samp Army in Qualifier 2 of the Abu Dhabi T10 League later tonight.
Deccan Gladiators after opting to field first drew first blood as Trent Boult sent Robin Uthappa back to the dug-out on the third ball of the innings.
Nuwan Thushara then bowled Rohan Mustafa in the next over, while Tom Abell got caught and bowled by Andre Russell, leaving Bangla Tigers struggling at 20-3.
Pathum Nissanka, who remained firm amid early wickets, was then joined by Gulbadin Naib and together they added 49 runs from 28 balls for the fourth wicket.
However, Russell dismissed Nissanka (25) to break the stand with 69 runs on board.
Naib remained unbeaten and continued to attack from his end to help his team reach 112-6 in their ten overs.
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He top-scored with 52 runs from 26 balls with the help of three boundaries and two sixes.
Thushara and Russell picked two wickets each for the Gladiators, while Boult and Zahoor Khan picked one each.
In response, Deccan Gladiators got off to a fiery start with 25 runs in the first over of Daniel Sams.
Opening batters Nicholas Pooran and Tom Kohler-Codmore showed dominant batting display, hitting Bangla Tigers’ bowlers mercilessly.
They chased the 113-run target in the seventh over with 20 balls to spare.
Pooran played a quick-fire knock of 70 runs from 25 balls, laced with eight boundaries and five sixes, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored 43 runs off 16 balls with four boundaries and three sixes.
From the bowling side, Benny Howell was the only bowler to concede less than ten runs.