Ricciardo keen to sign off on a high with Red Bull
Australian set for his 100th career race, his last one for the team
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The second edition of the T10 League got off to a colourful start at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with an opening ceremony filled with music and dance before Rajputs signalled their intention with a 10-wicket win over Sindhis in the first match of the 12-day showpiece yesterday.
The event was inaugurated by Dr Shaikh Majid Bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ajman Ruler’s Court, with top cricketers from around the world, who have made a mark in shorter formats of the game, lining up before fans. Over 80 performers and 100 members of the Dhoni Cricket Academy accorded a warm welcome to the players.
Defending champions Kerala Knights, Punjabi Legends, Bengal Tigers, Maratha Arabians, Pakhtoons and Northern Warriors are the other teams that will compete in the 10-overs-a-side thrillers.
Speaking to Gulf News, Chris Gayle, the ‘Universe Boss’ who will play for the Kerala Knights, called for cricket fans to throng the stadiums to make the event a success. “I urge everyone to come out and watch this league. I am sure everybody ■ has their own favourite teams and players, but come and support the whole event. You will not go wrong because T10 is all about entertainment and if you want to be entertained, come to Sharjah Stadium and have fun along with us. We will keep you entertaining from the field.”
Match details
India’s dashing batsman Virender Sehwag, here as the batting coach of the Maratha Arabians, said: “I played the tournament last year and it gave me an adrenalin rush like never before. This time I am here as the batting coach and it has the same feel like before. This tournament aims to entertain the fans and it fits well with my philosophy.”
In the first match, Rajputs won the toss and opted to bowl. Indian pacer Munaf Patel picked the first wicket of the second edition with his first delivery by dismissing Sindhis’ Anton Devcich for nine. Dawid Malan was trapped leg before by Carlos Brathwaite for two, but opener and captain Shane Watson kept the scoreboard moving. He cracked a breezy 42, studded with three sixes and four boundaries, before becoming Patel’s third’s victim. Patel had earlier dismissed Ben Cutting for five. In the last over, Mohammad Nawaz hit Tymal Mills for a towering six over long-off, but Sindhis were still restricted to 94 for six.
Chasing the target, Rajputs openers Mohammad Shahzad and Brendon McCullum lived up to their reputation. Shahzad, cheered by the large number of Afghanistan fans, cracked an unbeaten 74 off 18 balls with eight sixes and six fours, while McCullum, who played second fiddle and hardly got any strike, scored an unbeaten 22 runs off eight balls as Rajputs breezed through to their target in four overs.
Australian ace Daniel Ricciardo says he has double motivation to finish off with a win at the season-ending twilight Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit this weekend.
This will be Ricciardo’s last race before ending a five-year partnership with Red Bull — and also his 100th race.
“It is a big weekend for me. End of the season, my time with Red Bull and then the 100th race … it sounds perfect for a win. It will be awesome to finish off with a win,” said Ricciardo, who earlier in the season surprised everyone in the F1 circuit with the news that he will be joining rival Renault from 2019.
“I like the Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit. You like the track where you are fast on. I have always done well here and I don’t think I have ever not had a good qualifying here.
“So, it is a track where I had a good record. I love the last part when you go underneath the hotel and hopefully, I will do well,” said the West Australian, who was also of the view that the emotion of leaving and moving on will sink in once Sunday’s race is over.
“I think after the race, there will be some form of emotion. It is another chapter for my career. I’m very excited for having a good weekend,” said ■ Ricciardo, who replaces Carlos Sainz and joins the retained Nico Hulkenberg at Renault.
Despite the move, Ricciardo and Renault will have a lot of work to do ahead of the next season as Mercedes and Ferrari are way ahead currently when it comes to power.
“It will be a hell lot of a challenge and I know there will be a lot of work to do, but it is what I needed at this point of time in my career. Fresh start and fresh motivation and I’m very much looking forward to the new challenge,” said Ricciardo, who however will miss out on the pre-season testing that gets underway at the Yas Marina Circuit soon after the final race.
Biggest win
“No testing obviously, doing testing with Red Bull doesn’t make any sense. My contract actually with Red Bull is only finishing. So till it is change to Renault I can’t start; so holiday starts. “I will head back to Europe to finish off with Red Bull and then to Renault. No more driving after this weekend; it is my paid off,” said the 29-year-old. He said his most cherished moment with Red Bull came this year at Monaco Grand Prix which he won holding off Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
“The biggest win came actually this year. Winning at Monaco was something that I wanted to do for long. It was something that I had come very close [to winning] and I finally did it.
“This year, it came under typical circumstances and that wasn’t easy. So that was a very big moment. And also my second win in Budapest in 2014 because that one set a statement to my career. Those two moments were huge for me.”