ABU DHABI: Team Abu Dhabi’s opener – Paul Stirling’s heroic knock helped his side defeat Bangla Tigers in the eliminator of the ongoing T10 League, here on Friday.

Tigers openers Johnson Charles and Hazratullah Zazai failed to provide a solid start to the team after being invited to bat first in the event’s eliminator here on Friday, with Charles being dismissed on a golden duck when his side had no runs on the board. Zazai, on the other hand, stood firm at one end while wickets tumbled cheaply at the other.

Zazai batted sensibly and fought hard for his team, finishing unbeaten on 66 off 37 deliveries, with four maximums and five boundaries. The rest of their batting lineup was unable to go deep, and the team only managed to score 101/4 in 10 overs.

Fidel Edwards was the pick of the bowlers for Abu Dhabi, taking two wickets for 20 runs. Sheldon Cottrell and Merchant de Lange, on the other hand, each struck out a batter.

In response, Abu Dhabi openers Stirling and Phil Salt got their team off to a strong start, laying the groundwork for victory. The pair recorded a solid 81-run partnership before Salt was dismissed on 24 by Isuru Udana. Soon after, Stirling, the team’s top scorer, was dismissed by Benny Howell for 57 off just 20 deliveries.

Livingstone, the skipper, failed to deliver in the crucial match and was sent back to the pavilion for only two runs. The Tigers got three wickets, but it was too late as Abu Dhabi chased down the target in the seventh over.

Howell was the stand-out bowler for Tigers as he took two wickets for just 12 runs. Udana, on the other hand, struck out a batter.

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