ABU DHABI: Team Abu Dhabi sealed a convincing victory against Chennai Braves by seven wickets thanks to their opener Phil Salt who smashed 63 runs to help his team register sixth win in Abu Dhabi T10 League.
After being invited to bat first in 22nd match of the event here on Sunday, Braves’ openers Mohammad Shahzad and Bhanuka Rajapaksa started off well but couldn’t continue for long as Rajapaksa (14 off 7 deliveries) was dismissed by Jamie Overton when there were only 26 runs on the scoreboard.
Shahzad, however, stood firm at one end and went on to top-score for his side with a brilliant half-century. He scored 53 off just 30 deliveries. But, on the other end, wickets were tumbling at a quick rate, and the rest of the batters made small contributions for their final total of 107/6 in the respective 10 overs.
Liam Livingstone was the stand-out bowler for Abu Dhabi as he took three wickets for just 17 runs. Overton, Naveen-ul-Haq and Danny Briggs took a wicket each.
In reply, Abu Dhabi’s opening batter – Salt put on a strong batting show and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly even though his side were losing quick wickets from the other end. He smoked quickfire 63 off just 20 deliveries. Chris Gayle scored 30 off 16 deliveries and rest of their batters were dismissed recklessly. Salt’s heroics get his side to the victory with 18 balls to spare.
Abu Dhabi’s victory against Braves earned them the top position on the points table. Whereas, Braves remained at the bottom.
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ABU DHABI: Northern Warriors cruised to an easy ten-wicket victory against the table-toppers Team Abu Dhabi.
Northern openers Moeen Ali and Kennar Lewis gave their side a blistering start, made look chasing 146 very easy in the end. Lewis’ fourth six which was his side’s seventh, helped Northern comfortably chased down a huge target of 146 in 9.1 overs.
Lewis set the tone by smoking two sixes and two boundaries in the second over over of the innings as the penultimate over of Ahmed Daniyal went for 21. His opening partner from England, Moeen also did not hold back as he smoked two sixes in the next over. Both the openers kept following the same pattern and took their side to victory. Moeen top-scored for his side as he scored blistering 77 off just 23 and was adjudged player of the match for his outstanding innings. Lewis also played brilliantly and scored 65 on 32 deliveries.
Team Abu Dhabi’s bowlers were taken to the cleaners and none of them were able to get a wicket.
Batting first, Abu Dhabi started off well despite losing their opening batter Daniel Bell-Drummond cheaply for just 3 run a ball. Paul Stirling scored quickfire 28 off just 11 balls. Colin Ingram played remarkable innings as the left-handed batter smoked five sixes and five boundaries and went on to top-score for his side (61 off just 25 balls). By some contribution from the skipper Liam Livingstone who scored 27 off 11, Warriors managed to get a defend-able total on the board as the side finished on 145/6 in their allotted 10 overs.
Northern bowlers Imran Tahir and Rayad Emrit bagged two wickets each to their names. Whereas, Josh Little and Umair Ali took one wicket each.
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