Team Abu Dhabi finish with a flourish to end Delhi Bulls' top-four hopes

Team Abu Dhabi finally got their act together to win at the seventh attempt, ending their campaign in the Abu Dhabi T10 on a high at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The hosts' success was also a bitter pill for the losing team, Delhi Bulls, who missed out on a place in the play-offs, leaving Bangla Tigers to join New York Strikers, Morrisville Samp Army, and the defending champions Deccan Gladiators to battle it out for the seventh edition of the title.

The Bulls, electing to take first lease of the wicket, posted 97 for three, with Adam Lyth (39no off 24) and Rovman Powell (31 off 20) chipping in with useful scores.

In reply, Kyle Mayers and Tom Banton gave Abu Dhabi a flying start with a 52-run stand from 26 balls before the latter was forced to retire on 15 after being hit on the shoulder by Afghan quick Naveen ul Haq.

Mayers blasted away for a 30-ball 60 that included five mighty hits out of the ground and an equal number of fours. However, the left-handed opener fell to local lad Wasim Akram three runs short of the target.

With two deliveries left in that over, Alex Hales crossed over for a single and then Colin Ingram flicked a low full toss to the fine leg fence for the Abu Dhabi dugout to erupt in celebration.

“Obviously it was a relief to finally get a win. Prior to tonight, we were a good quality team with good players. I think we let ourselves down a bit, I just wanted to show we can actually play cricket,” Dwaine Pretorius, the Abu Dhabi captain, said.

For a cracking half century and for guiding his team home to victory