ABU DHABI: Phil Salt played a blistering knock to steer Team Abu Dhabi to a dominant nine-wicket victory over Ajman Bolts in the opening game of the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 here on Thursday.
After opting to field first, Team Abu Dhabi restricted Ajman Bolts to a meagre 79-8 in the allocated ten overs courtesy of their dominant bowling display.
Mark Adair, Zeeshan Naseer and Kadeem Alleyne took two wickets each.
Only three batters from Ajman Bolts managed to reach double figures with Ravi Bopara (23) being the top-scorer.
Team Abu Dhabi had a shaky start to the run-chase as they lost Paul Stirling in the first over. However, Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow exhibited their brilliant strokeplay to ensure victory for their team without any further damage in 5.4 overs.
Salt smashed 53 runs from 19 balls, laced with six sixes and two fours, while Bairstow played a supporting role with a 14-ball 22.
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Later in the last match of the day, Deccan Gladiators edged past Chennai Braves as they chased a huge 142-run target in 9.4 overs at the loss of three wickets.
After a below-par start, Tom Kohler-Cadmore was joined by Jos Buttler, and together they turned the game on its head with their belligerent hitting. The English duo smashed 100 runs from 36 balls to tilt the game in Gladiators’ favour.
Kohler-Cadmore scored 51 runs from 24 balls with the help of four sixes and as many fours before falling prey to Sabir Ali.
However, Buttler remained unbeaten to take his team across the line with a 24-ball 62, which featured six sixes and four boundaries.
Earlier, Rassie van der Dussen and Chris Lynn constructed a 121-run stand for the second wicket in just 49 balls to set up Chennai Braves’ total of 141-2.
Van der Dussen was dismissed by his fellow countryman Anrich Nortje after he had scored 62 runs from 29 balls with two fours and five sixes. Meanwhile, Lynn remained unbeaten at 68, which included eight boundaries and three sixes.
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