Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021-22: Qualifying stage Round-Up

The qualifying round of the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021-22 took place on Friday (December 3) and fans witnessed some exciting action over the 22 yards. While Deccan Gladiators and Delhi Bulls met in the Qualifier with a place in the final at stakes, Team Abu Dhabi and Bangla Tigers met in the Eliminator. The Gladiators advanced to the final clash after emerging victorious while the Bulls met Team Abu Dhabi, winner of Eliminator, in Qualifier 2.

Bulls didn’t miss out on this opportunity and walked away with a 49-run win to set up a summit clash with the Gladiators on Saturday (December 4). Coming to the proceedings of the first clash, the Gladiators’ batting clicked once again and overcame a minor stutter in the middle overs to pose an imposing 139. The Delhi Bulls’ batting unit started strongly but the chase lost steam after the departure of Eoin Morgan in the seventh over.

David Wiese, Andre Russell take Deccan Gladiators to finals

Chasing the stiff total, the Bulls eventually finished with 122 for the loss of five wickets to lose the contest by 17 runs. Coming to the Eliminator, Team Abu Dhabi kept their title hopes alive after defeating Bangla Tigers by 7 wickets. After the Bangla Tigers posted a total of 101/4 in their 10 overs, Paul Stirling played a brilliant knock of 57 runs from 20 balls to help his team chase down the total in 6.5 overs.

Paul Stirling smashed Mohammad Amir for two boundaries and a six in the second over and set the ball rolling for Team Abu Dhabi. He smashed two more sixes off James Faulkner’s bowling in the next over. The opening batters Paul Stirling and Philip Salt put Team Abu Dhabi in the driver’s seat with a partnership of 81 runs in 4.5 overs.

Salt and Stirling were dismissed in quick succession, however, Chris Gayle and Colin Ingram closed out the game in clinical fashion in the end. The last game of the night was Qualifier 2. Delhi Bulls booked their place in the Abu Dhabi T10 final after defeating Team Abu Dhabi by 49 runs in the clash.

The Bulls will be up against the Deccan Gladiators in the Final and Team Abu Dhabi will face off against Bangla Tigers in the 3rd Place Play-off on Saturday. After the Delhi Bulls recorded a total of 109/7 in their 10 overs, Team Abu Dhabi were bowled out for 60 in 8.3 overs. Dominic Drakes was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/13.

Brief scores

Deccan Gladiators vs Delhi Bulls, Qualifier 1

Deccan Gladiators 139/4 (Andre Russell 39, David Wiese 31, Dominic Drakes 3-15)

Delhi Bulls 122/5 (Eoin Morgan 27, Chandrapaul Hemraj 24, Andre Russell 2-27)

Team Abu Dhabi vs Bangla Tigers, Eliminator

Team Abu Dhabi 105/3 (Paul Stirling 57, Philip Salt 24, Benny Howell 2/22)

Bangla Tigers 101/4 (Hazratullah Zazai 66*, Benny Howell 14*, Fidel Edwards 2-20)

Delhi Bulls vs Team Abu Dhabi, Qualifier 2

Delhi Bulls 109/7 (Romario Shepherd 26, Sherfane Rutherford 19, Liam Livingstone 2-7)

Team Abu Dhabi 60 (Philip Salt 15, Chris Gayle 14, Dominic Drakes 4/13)