Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021: Day 6 – Round Up

The Abu Dhabi T10 League is reaching its decisive stage, and the 6th day’s action commenced with the Maratha Arabians taking on the Qalandars. After the former were inserted to bat, Sohail Tanvir shone with the ball, bagging three wickets in his spell of two overs. However, contributions from the Pakistan duo of Mohammad Hafeez, who got 44 from 26, and Shoaib Malik, 23 from 16, guided the Arabians to a par total of 101.

During their response, Qalandars kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Although chasing nothing too massive for the win meant that even a couple of starts in the middle-order sufficed for them to chase the target at the loss of 6 wickets with 11 balls left in the bank. A 16-ball 28 from Sharjeel Khan steadied them after the early fall of Tom Banton, whereas the 20s from Sohail Akhtar (20 from 11) and Ben Dunk (26 from 12) eventually saw them on the winning side.

The second clash – between Pune Devils and Delhi Bulls – was disappointing and uncharacteristic of a format renowned for fast-paced action. After a start of sorts, given by Kennar Lewis (15 from 7), the Devils underwent a collapse courtesy of Amad Butt’s twin strikes in the third over.

Before Nasir Hossain’s men could have found any mode of recovery, they were jolted thrice by Ali Khan, who finished with scarcely-believable figures: 0.5-0-0-3 and was injured, unfortunately. After restricting their opponents for 57/7, Evin Lewis and Sherfane Rutherford chipped in alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who got 26 from 14, as Bulls chased the target in merely 4.4 overs; winning the match by 8 wickets.

After a rather underwhelming contest, a tightly-contested final fixture of the day between Northern Warriors and Deccan Gladiators compensated well. Despite the golden duck from Brandon King, a sizzling 23-ball 51, which included four sixes and as many boundaries from Rovman Powell, orchestrated the Warriors’ innings. Quick-fire cameos from Nicholas Pooran (29 from 16) and Waseem Muhammad (26 from 10) before Fabien Allen’s late flourish of 22 from 12 led them to a winnable total of 143/4.

Slamming five sixes and four boundaries in his half-century (54 from 22), Azam Khan ensured to keep the Gladiators in the hunt. Despite the controlled spells from Fabien Allen and Junaid Siddique, who both got two wickets each in their economical spells, the other bowlers leaked runs in plenty as Anwar Ali counterattacked through his 10-ball cameo, scoring 35 with three fours and as many sixes. Needing 24 from the last over, Wayne Parnell somehow managed to defend it as Gladiators fell agonizingly short by 3 runs.

Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021, Brief scores, Day 6

Maratha Arabians vs Qalandars – 14th Match

MA:  101/5 (10 overs) – Mohammad Hafeez (44 from 26), Shoaib Malik (23 from 16); Sohail Tanvir 3/22, Ahmed Daniyal 1/17

QAL: 104/6 (8.1 overs) – Sharjeel Khan (28 from 16), Ben Dunk (26 from 12), Sohail Akhtar (20 from 11); Yamin Ahmadzai 2/21, Shoaib Malik 1/6

Result: Qalandars won by 4 wickets.

Pune Devils vs Delhi Bulls – 16th Match

PD: 57/7 (10 overs) – Kennar Lewis (15 from 7), Devon Thomas (15 from 18); Ali Khan0/3, Amad Butt 2/22

DB: 58/2 (4.4 overs) – Rahmanullah Gurbaz (26 from 14), Sherfane Rutherford (14 from 3); Munsi Ansari 1/18, Mohammad Amir 1/23

Result: Delhi Bulls won by 8 wickets.

Northern Warriors vs Deccan Gladiators– 17th Match

NW: 143/4 (10 overs) – Rovaman Powell (51 from 23), Nicholas Pooran (29 from 16), Waseem Muhammad (26 from 10); Zahoor Khan 1/13, Sunil Narine 1/30

DG: 140/6 (10 overs) – Azam Khan (54 from 22), Anwar Ali (35 from 10); Fabien Allen 2/8, Junaid Siddique 2/16

Result: Warriors won by 3 runs.