ABU DHABI: Asif Ali and Kieron Pollard’s blistering partnership helped New York Strikers edge Deccan Gladiators by seven wickets to win their maiden Abu Dhabi T10 League title at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Deccan Gladiators were invited to bat first and they scripted a good start with 24 runs in two overs.
However, the New York Strikers pulled them back with three quick wickets and slipped the Gladiators to 41-4 in six overs.
Andre Russell along with David Weise then took control and helped the Gladiators recover to finish at a total of 91-5 in their allocated 10 overs.
Russell played a quick-fire knock of 30 runs from 18 balls, laced with two boundaries and as many boundaries, while Weise scored 20 off 11 with the help of two sixes.
Sunil Narine topped the bowling charts for the Strikers with bowling figures of 2-6, while Akeal Hosein, Muhammad Jawadullah and George Scrimshaw picked one wicket each.
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In response, New York Strikers lost their opening batters with a mere seven runs on the board, as Trent Boult and Nuwan Thushara picked one wicket each.
Niroshan Dickwella (14) and Asif Ali attempted to rebuild the innings with a brief 31-run partnership before Russell dismissed the former.
Ali was joined by skipper Kieron Pollard and together they attacked the Gladiators’ bowling line-up to chase the total with four balls to spare and win the Abu Dhabi T10 League title for the first time.
Ali scored an unbeaten 48 from 25 balls with the help of two boundaries and four sixes, while Pollard struck 21 off 13.
Trent Boult, Nuwan Thushara and Russell picked one wicket each for Deccan Gladiators.