Team Abu Dhabi defeat Gladiators with a six in last-ball T10 drama
Team Abu Dhabi pulled off a nail-biting last ball finish to emerge victorious against Deccan Gladiators and complete three wins in as many games in Abu Dhabi T10 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Needing five to win from the last delivery off Anwar Ali, Abu Dhabi’s Danny Briggs top edged towards the fine leg fence.
Andre Russell leapt, caught it and flicked the ball back into play. But replays confirmed he had a foot on the boundary cushion, with the resultant six for Abu Dhabi clinching the game by four wickets as they chased down the 98-run target.
“That was nice to be able to get over the line after we were pretty much behind the game when batting,” Abu Dhabi captain Liam Livingstone.
“I think Jamie batted well together with Briggs, who did well to hit the last ball for a six to give us the win.
“We started well and Fidel [Edwards] was brilliant with the new ball. He got some swing, which was perfect for him. Our bowling unit has been brilliant throughout the tournament so far.
“The boys are doing well and it has been great fun, even more so when a game goes down to the wire. We thought the last ball was a six but then we had to spend an anxious moment for the decision before we could celebrate.”
It was a disappointing end for the Gladiators who had fought hard to score 97-9. They were three wickets down for three runs in the second over and reduced to 18-5 in the fifth.
Wanindu Hasaranga struck an 18-ball 30 and Odean Smith struck hit three sixes and an equal number of fours for a 10-ball 34 to get to a total they nearly defended.
Edwards and Naveen ul Haq did the early damage by taking two wickets apiece.
Abu Dhabi wobbled at the start when Hasaranga was on a hat-trick twice in his two overs, finishing with 4-12. Thereafter, Jamie Overton (33 runs off 18 balls) and Briggs (19 off 13) took them over the line with a 48-run stand.
Abu Dhabi required 31 from the last two overs. Overton began with a straight six off Russell and slapped the fourth delivery to the mid-wicket fence. He picked up 17 runs with Briggs to bring the equation down to 14 from the final over.
Hamid Hassan came into bowl the final over. However, having bowled the penultimate delivery, with five needed, he limped off the field leaving Ali to complete that over.
Earlier, Delhi Bulls defeated Chennai Braves by five wickets and two deliveries to spare in the second game.
The Braves posted 124-2 with Bhanuka Rajapaksa thumping a 31-ball 64 not out, but Bulls captain Dwayne Bravo (43 off 17) and Eoin Morgan (26 not out off 12) ensured victory.
Defending champions Northern Warriors crashed to a third straight defeat when Bangla Tigers chased down a target of 127 with five wickets in hand.