New York Strikers claim maiden Abu Dhabi T10 title with victory over Deccan Gladiators

The New York Strikers denied the Deccan Gladiators a hat-trick of Abu Dhabi T10 titles as they won the competition for the first time at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

They restricted the Gladiators to 91 for five and knocked off the winning runs with four balls to spare with Asif Ali and captain Kieron Pollard sharing an undefeated 54-run stand for the fourth wicket to take their side over the line with four balls to spare.

The Strikers didn’t have it easy after Trent Boult struck with the fifth delivery of the opening over. The New Zealand quick bowler had Muhammad Waseem (six) trapped in front when the score was seven.

Nuwan Thushara knocked back Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s (one) middle stump with his first delivery in the next over.

Andre Russell bowled a fine over, removing Niroshan Dickwella and conceding just four runs that left the Strikers on 38 for three at the halfway mark of their innings.

Needing 50 from the last 30 balls, Ali and the Strikers captain Pollard set about their job to take their side to their first Abu Dhabi T10 title.

Ali hit an unbeaten 48 in 25 deliveries and finished in style with a six over off Zahoor Khan and the deep-midwicket fence. Pollard chipped in with a useful 22 off 13 with a six and four.

After the toss, the Gladiators were sent into bat and got off to a decent start. Tom Kohler-Cadmore sent the first two deliveries he faced from Mohammad Amir to the point and deep cover boundaries for 12 in the first over.

Nicholas Pooran smashed three fours off Muhammad Jawadullah to take the score to 24 in the next before Sunil Narine provided the breakthrough when he spun one that pitched outside the off stump to hit the top of Kohler-Cadmore’s leg stump and leave the score at 28 for one.

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