ABU DHABI: David Miller’s half-century in the first innings trumped Hazratullah Zazai’s half-century as Bangla Tigers edged Northern Warriors by a close two-run margin in a thrilling Abu Dhabi T10 League clash at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Bangla Tigers after being invited to bat suffered an early blow when Sultan Ahmed removed Avishka Fernando after he scored 11 runs off four balls.
Kusal Mendis then joined hands with Jordan Cox and together they attacked Northern Warriors’ bowling lineup to raise 52 runs from 20 balls for the second wicket.
However, James Neesham halted their progress by removing both batters in the same over reducing the Tigers to 70-3 in five overs.
Cox scored 35 runs from 16 balls with the help of three boundaries and as many sixes, while his partner Mendis scored 20 off 10 with three boundaries.
David Miller and Dasun Shanaka were then involved in a blistering partnership adding 67 runs from 29 balls to push the total to 137 before Miller got out on the final ball of the innings.
Miller scored 50 runs from 24 balls featuring four boundaries and three sixes, while Shanaka scored 14 off seven with two sixes.
James Neesham was the only notable contributor for the bowling side with figures of 2-22.
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Northern Warriors had a flying start to their chase of the mammoth total as Kennar Lewis and Hazratullah Zazai raised 54 runs in three overs before the former got caught behind.
Lewis played a quick-fire knock of 22 runs from nine balls, laced with two boundaries and as many sixes.
Zazai then played a rapid knock of 57 runs from 20 balls, featuring five boundaries and as many sixes before departing with 100 runs on the board in the sixth over.
This was Zazai’s third half-century in the ongoing edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 League. He is also the highest run-scorer in the tournament with 200 runs.
Carlos Brathwaite then bowled a double-wicket over to slip Warriors to 110-5.
James Neesham held on to one end amidst tight bowling by the Tigers’ bowlers but failed to get his team across the line as the Warriors needed four off the last ball and managed only one.
Neesham remained unbeaten at 23 off 14 with the help of three boundaries.
Brathwaite returned with figures of 2-26, while Josh Little, Daniel Sams and Rohan Mustafa picked one wicket each for Bangla Tigers.
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