Abu Dhabi T10 2023, Match 20 Review: Qais Ahmad, Salman Irshad bowl Samp Army to a six-wicket win over Bangla Tigers

5^th December, 2023 Abu Dhabi: Qais Ahmad and Salman Irshad bowled Morrisville Samp Army to a six-wicket win over Bangla Tigers in the 20th match of the Abu Dhabi T10 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. While Ahmad bagged three wickets for 14 runs, Irshad took three wickets for 12 runs. They were backed by Karim Janat with two wickets for four runs. Bangla Tigers who were asked to bat first, got all out for 82 in 10 overs.

Chasing the target, Andries Gous hit a breezy 42 off 20 balls with four boundaries and three sixes. Later, skipper Moeen Ali with an unbeaten 12 and Najibullah Zadran(13n.o), steered Samp Army to the target in 8.2 overs.

This victory has taken Samp Army to the top of the table with eight points from five matches.

Qais Ahmad and Salman Irshad’s three wicket spells

Samp Army won the toss and elected to bowl. Bangla Tigers’s consistent and hard-hitting Jordan Cox had a new opening partner in Pathum Nissanka. The accurate Jason Holder got Nissanka out with the last ball of the first over, caught by Faf du Plessis at mid-off for 6. Cox, fresh from his unbeaten knock of 56 against Team Abu Dhabi, hit Peter Hatzoglou for two consecutive sixes in the second over to long-on and over extra cover.

Karim Janat bowled a tight third over giving away just two runs. Leg spinner Qais Ahmad who bowled the fourth over was lifted effortlessly by Cox over long-on for a six. Qais struck with the fifth ball to remove the dangerous Cox, who swept him straight to Salman Irshad at deep square leg for 27. 

Karim Janat had one-drop Kusal Mendis caught brilliantly by Basil Hameed running in and taking a high catch long-on for 2. He also removed Avishka Fernando caught by Qais at sweeper cover. At the half way stage, Bangla Tigers was struggling at 39 for 4.

Dominic Drakes hit Hatzoglou’s first ball of the sixth over for a boundary to long-off and the next ball for six over mid-wicket. Qais clean bowled Drakes, who went for a wild swing and missed, for 15. With only three more overs to go and the score reading 56 for 6, it was evident that Bangla Tigers would find it difficult to cross the 100-run mark.

To make the grip stronger, Irshad had Dasun Shanaka caught by Muhammad Irfan at third man for 3. He also yorked Carlos Brathwaite with a beauty for 2, giving just five runs in the eighth over. 

Benny Howell hit Holder, who was re-introduced for the ninth over, for a boundary over extra cover and a six over long on to take 14 runs of that over. Rohan Mustafa too hit the first ball of the last over from Irshad through the covers. Irshad struck back forcing Mustafa to pull into the hands of Hatzoglou at deep mid-wicket for 11 with the fifth delivery. He returned with brilliant figures of 3 for 12 from his two overs. Haider Ali got run out off the last ball for 1 and Bangla Tigers got bowled out for 82.

Gous's breezy start 

Chasing the target, Samp Army opener Andries Gous hit Daniel Sams’ first delivery for a boundary through the covers. He also hit the last ball of that over past mid-on for another boundary. Left-arm spinner Haider Ali picked the valuable wicket of Faf du Plessis by forcing him to hit into the hands of Howell at mid-off for 1.

Gous continued to score freely hitting Shannon Gabriel for a six to deep square leg off the first ball of the third over and a boundary to deep mid-wicket off the second delivery. He also hit Grabriel’s fifth delivery over long-on for a six and a boundary to backward square leg, to take 24 runs of that over.

Haider Ali bowled another tight over giving away only seven runs from the fourth over.  Gous pulled Howell for his fifth boundary off the first ball of the fifth over. However,  Ibrahim Zadran, going for a slog sweep, got caught by a diving Brathwaite behind the wicketkeeper.

Karim Janat joined Gous when 32 runs were needed from the last five overs.  Gous hit Brathwaite’s first delivery of the sixth over for a six over square leg. Brathwaite ended Gous’ knock by having him caught by Mustafa at deep point with the second ball for 42. His knock off 20 balls had four boundaries and three sixes. Skipper Moeen Ali walked in and hit Brathwaite’s fourth delivery for a six to deep square leg.

Needing just 18 more runs to win in 24 balls, Mustafa got Janat out for 4 , caught by Shanaka at deep square leg. He gave away only five runs in that over. With 13 runs needed off 18 balls, Najibullah Zadran hit Gabriel’s fifth delivery to the mid-off boundary.

By the start of the ninth over, Sampy Army needed only four runs to win. Zadran smashed the second delivery from Mustafa through the covers to win the match with 10 balls to spare.

Brief scores:

Samp Army beat Bangla Tigers by 6 wickets

Bangla Tigers: 82 in 10 overs (Jordan Cox 27, Karim Janat 2 for 4, Qais Ahmad 3 for 14, Salman Irshad 3 for 12)

Samp Army: 85 for 4 in 8.2 overs (Andries Gous 42)

Player of the Match: Qais Ahmed