Analysis: Strikers won the title as Asif added 48* in 25 balls with two fours and four sixes

The New York Strikers, led by Sunil Narine, produced an outstanding bowling display in the final to thrash the Deccan Gladiators by seven wickets with four balls to spare on Saturday, ending the side’s chances of winning three consecutive Abu Dhabi T10 championships.

The New York Strikers, led by Sunil Narine, produced an outstanding bowling display in the final to thrash the Deccan Gladiators by seven wickets with four balls to spare on Saturday, ending the side’s chances of winning three consecutive Abu Dhabi T10 championships.

As the competition progressed, large scores had decreased, but Gladiators’ 91 for 5, which they had submitted, didn’t seem good enough for the big game. 

Despite the Strikers being 7 for 2 in 1.1 overs, it turned out to be precisely that, as openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Muhammad Waseem were dismissed for very little.

The innings were continued by Niroshan Dickwella and Player of the Match Asif Ali, however, Dickwella was removed by Andre Russell for a 12-ball 14. After that, it was all Asif and Captain Kieron Pollard, who combined for 56 runs without much pressure from the scoreboard to slow them down.

The Strikers won the title with Asif adding 48 not out in 25 balls with two fours and four sixes, and Pollard’s 22 not out in 13 with a four and a six.

But the bowlers created the stage for the victory. Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Nicholas Pooran, who rank first and third in the tournament run-scorers list, put up a decent opening partnership of 28 for the Gladiators, but in the third over, Narine struck with Kohler-Cadmore’s wicket for a seven-ball 13. 

After Pooran was bowled by George Scrimshaw two balls later, the Gladiators found themselves at 28 for 2. Within 7.1 overs, they had progressed to 36 for 3, 41 for 4, and 57 for 5. Narine, in his two overs, returned with 2 for 6 without giving up a single boundary.

Russell ended the innings with some momentum, finishing unbeaten at 30 from 18 balls with two fours and two sixes, and David Wiese, at 20 not out from 11, also with four and two sixes, Gladiators were unable to hold on to their total.

BEST PERFORMANCES – BATTERS

Asif Ali NYS

48 runs (25) 2 fours 4 sixes

AD Russell DG

30 runs (18) 2 fours 2 sixes

BEST PERFORMANCES – BOWLERS

SP Narine NYS

O      2

M     0

R      6

W     2

ECO 3

TA Boult DG

O       2

M      0

R      13

W     1

ECO 6.5

PARTNERSHIPS

Deccan Gladiators

T Kohler-Cadmore             N Pooran

13 (7)            28 (17)           15 (10)

D Wiese                   AD Russell

20 (11)     34* (17)      12 (6)

New York Strikers

N Dickwella         Asif Ali

14 (11)      31 (20) 14 (9)

KA Pollard           Asif Ali

22 (13)     56* (29) 34 (16)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Asif Ali, NYS

48* (25) & 2 catches

PLAYER OF THE SERIES

Akeal Hosein, NYS

12 wkts