Onto the final day of the Abu Dhabi T10! We have two games, the 3rd Place Play-Off and the final and it is going to be an exact replica of what happened on Friday, only in reverse. At 5.15 pm local (1315 GMT), Qalandars meet Team Abu Dhabi and later, at 8 pm local (1600 GMT), we have the grand final between Dwayne Bravo's Delhi Bulls and Nicholas Pooran's Northern Warriors. Join us then, on Saturday, 6th February, 2021. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Northern Warriors' skipper, Nicholas Pooran, thanks the almighty for the win. Is short of words for Lendl Simmons, calling him a big-game player and very adjusting as well, batting anywhere from down the order to the top. Praises all his bowlers who are very young, to rein in Abu Dhabi. Is happy with the batters as well for putting their hands up. Admits that they have taken the longer route to the final and sends a message to Dwayne Bravo that the Warriors are coming for them. Hopes to perform well in the final.
FABIAN ALLEN HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his excellent bowling spell of 2-0-13-4. It was his spell which pegged Team Abu Dhabi back.
Earlier in the evening, Team Abu Dhabi got off to a flier, through a whirlwind knock from Paul Stirling. They were 55/0 in 2.5 overs, of which, Stirling had made 48! But they lost their way from there, as they could reach just 114, when 150 was in sight. That nearly proved to be enough though. Fabian Allen was the pick of the bowlers with 4/13 in 2 overs. Please stay tuned for the presentation...
Team Abu Dhabi have themselves to blame. Was it the dew? What happened differently in the last 3 overs as compared to the first 7? No bowler's figures look bad because that is how well they actually began! Sadly, they could not finish off what they started. Naveen-ul-Haq was the pick of the bowlers with 1/21 in 2 overs.
Unbelievable run chase. The Warriors were in a pool of trouble, not able to get going at all. They kept losing wickets while Lendl Simmons, who had come out to open, just kept mistiming his shots. Then came the Jamie Overton over in the 8th and the momentum changed. Powell took him on and in the next, went after McCoy. Simmons was dropped on 31 and he made them pay. He was struggling on 25 from 21, ends up with 46 from 27 and wins his side the match. Rovman Powell was the one who injected momentum into the chase after it seemed dead and buried. His 49 from 24 kept the Warriors in the hunt and eventually, the target was achieved.
How did this game slip out of the bag, Abu Dhabi? You had this in your bag. 49 needed in 3 overs, yet you fail to defend. Pure nerves. They don't know what hit them. They started well in both the innings but ended poorly.
NORTHERN WARRIORS
115/3 (9.4)
49 (24)
46* (27)
1/21 (2)
1/22 (2)
Over 10
wd
6
2
0
6
wd
Lendl Simmons*
46 (27)
Fabian Allen
0 (0)
Tom Helm
0/23 (1.4)
NW
115/3
wd
9.5
Tom Helm to Lendl Simmons ,Run out of a wide but it does not matter as the wide finishes off the game! A slower ball, down the leg side, Simmons looks to tuck it fine but misses. Allen, who had already started to run even before the ball was bowled is caught short as Ben Duckett fires a throw at the striker's end. But it does not matter. Allen continues to run all the way to the dugout! NORTHERN WARRIORS PLAY DELHI BULLS IN THE FINAL!
6
9.4
Tom Helm to Lendl Simmons ,SIX! Scores level! A short ball, slower in pace, outside off, Simmons pulls it over mid-wicket! The Warriors' dugout is on its feet and ready to run in to hug its players. Just 1 needed...
0
9.3
Tom Helm to Lendl Simmons ,Yorker, outside off, Lendl looks to dig it out but misses.
2
9.2
Tom Helm to Lendl Simmons ,Length again, dragged through square leg this time. Obed McCoy at the fence nearly makes a meal of it. Fumbles, almost concedes a boundary but recovers. Two runs taken. 7 needed from 4.
6
9.1
Tom Helm to Lendl Simmons ,SIX! BRUTAL! Poor ball. A length one, that too at this stage. Simmons gets under it and pulls it over mid-wicket! 9 needed from 5 now.
wd
9.1
Tom Helm to Lendl Simmons ,WIDE! Pressure on the bowler. Slower ball, short in length, down the leg side. Simmons misses out on the pull. Does not matter. Extra ball coming.
Fabian Allen walks in. Tom Helm to bowl the final over. 1-0-7-0 so far.
Over 9
0
6
1
2nb
6
2
W
Rovman Powell*
49 (24)
Lendl Simmons
32 (23)
Obed McCoy
1/22 (2)
NW
99/3
W
8.6
Obed McCoy to Rovman Powell ,OUT! BOWLED! McCoy has the last laugh. But is it too late? Powell is on his haunches. Simmons walks towards him and consoles him. Full and outside off, pace taken off, Rovman gets down and plays an agricultural slog. But he only manages to drag it onto his stumps. No celebration. Team Abu Dhabi are nervous. Powell is gone but 16 is gettable in the final over. End of a wonderful knock from Powell - 49 from 24.
2
8.5
Obed McCoy to Rovman Powell ,Full and outside off, hit down the ground. Paul Stirling gets across at long off, tries to stop the ball but slips. The single is converted into a double.
6
8.4
Obed McCoy to Rovman Powell ,SIX! Full toll of the Free Hit. A length ball, around middle, Powell sends it sailing over long on! 18 needed from 8 balls now.