Right then! Nicholas Pooran of the Northern Warriors goes onto the podium to receive the trophy as he is surrounded by his teammates. All of them now posing for the shutterbugs and the team and the management look happy and elated. So, that is it from this edition of Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021. Hope you enjoyed our company for these 10-days. We hope to have your company for future games also. Till then, cheers, take care, keep safe, and goodbye from our side.
Northern Warriors skipper, Nicholas Pooran says thanks to Abu Dhabi cricket for making this happen. Further says that they have a lot of West Indians in the team and they play a lot of cricket. In the finals, he says that putting up a score is a challenge and their strength is batting, so they chased it down. He further says that Fidel Edwards bowled well and he had the last laugh but they won and they too laughed.
Time for the Team awards and first up, it is the third-place award and Team Abu Dhabi takes this one. Now the runner-up award and it goes to the Delhi Bulls.
Time for the presentation. First up the umpires and the match referees receive their momentos. Waseem Muhammad of Northern Warriors is named as the UAE Player of the tournament. Then comes the Best Bowler award and that goes to Chris Jordan of Qalandars. The Best Batsman award of the tournament goes to Sohail Akhtar of Qalandars.
Maheesh Theekshana is named as the Man of the Match. He says that Bravo's wicket was his favorite out of the lot. Says that he backs himself and the only thing that was on his mind was to believe in himself. Praises Pooran and that he gives freedom to every bowler. Ends by saying that this means a lot to him.
Rayad Emrit is up for a chat. He praises the almighty first and he says that he is overwhelmed right now and that the Bulls were strong. Also adds that they were missing two key bowlers and he is very happy. Feels that the world is in trouble due to the pandemic and they are happy that they could win the title. Praises Fidel Edwards as says that he is bowling faster as each year goes by.
Rovman Powell is caught up for a chat with Alex Jordan. Let's hear it from him. He says that they believed that they stood a chance today and they played some very good cricket. Jokingly adds that from the start, they have been begging Pooran to win the toss and when they restricted them to a total, they believed. Praises Pooran and says that he is fantastic on and off the field as well. Praises all the fans of the Warriors.
Earlier in the game, Northern Warriors won the toss and sent Delhi Bulls to bat. The Bulls started with the bang with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Evin Lewis but once Gurbaz fell, the procession started as the Bulls came and went as they failed to cope with the bowling of the Warriors and in the end, they lost 9 wickets and could muster just 81 runs in their 10 overs. For the Warriors, it was Maheesh Theekshana who bagged a 3-fer. Junaid Siddique and Dhananjaya Lakshan had a couple to their name as Rayad Emrit and Fabian Allen ended with a wicket each too. Overall, a good bowling performance and then a brilliant batting saw them chase the total to emerge victorious for the second time. Time for some interviews...
The Bulls bowled their heart out but with not much on the board, their bowlers were asked to do too much. Fidel Edwards and Shiraz Ahmed bowled superbly as they both got a wicket each as the others bowled well but could not get wickets. In the end, some poor batting and sloppy fielding saw them lose the all-important final.
Chasing just 82 runs in the final, the Warriors began on the right note as Pooran and Muhammad started beautifully. Though the over from Fidel 'Castro' Edwards gave the confidence to the Bulls that they can defend it as he scalped Pooran. Waseem and Lendl then played well as they mixed caution with aggression but Muhammad departed failing to nail a slower one out of the ropes. In the end, it was Simmons and Powell who saw their side over the line as they emerged victorious.
What was expected to be a cracker of a contest turned out to be a one-sided affair. A complete bowling performance from the Warriors has helped them earn this win. The Warriors succeeded in taking revenge for the loss they suffered at the hands of the Bulls in the Qualifier as they go onto become the champion of the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021.
NORTHERN WARRIORS
85/2 (8.2)
27 (22)
16* (8)
1/18 (2)
1/18 (2)
Over 9
2
4wd
6
Rovman Powell*
16 (8)
Lendl Simmons
14 (12)
Nyeem Young
0/13 (0.2)
NW
85/2
6
8.2
Nyeem Young to Rovman Powell ,SIX! Going, going, GONEEEE! That will do it! The Warriors players run out and come to the pitch to celebrate. Shortish and on middle, Powell swings and smokes this one over the fine leg fence for a biggie. NORTHERN WARRIORS HAVE WON BY 8 WICKETS AND HAVE ALSO WON THE ABU DHABI T10 LEAGUE 2021!
4wd
8.2
Nyeem Young to Rovman Powell ,FIVE WIDES. Loose bowling from Young. Tries to bowl a bumper but it goes down the leg side and even Gurbaz' dive is not able to stop this one. Races away to the fence at fine leg. Just 3 more needed now.
2
8.1
Nyeem Young to Rovman Powell ,On a good length and around off, Powell slogs this one across the line to the deep mid-wicket region for a brace.
Who will bowl the penultimate over? Nyeem Young it will be.
Over 8
1
1
4
1
1
1
Rovman Powell*
8 (6)
Lendl Simmons
14 (12)
Dwayne Bravo
0/15 (2)
NW
72/2
1
7.6
Dwayne Bravo to Rovman Powell ,Length and outside off, Powell eases this one to the right of the mid off fielder. Powell keeps the strike with the single. Only 10 more needed now.
1
7.5
Dwayne Bravo to Lendl Simmons ,Slightly behind the good length and on off, Simmons works this one to point and rotates the strike.