Deccan Gladiators smashed a whopping 140/ 2 through Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Nicholas Pooran fireworks. Delhi Bulls fought back valiantly to score 122/4 in 10 overs but they lost the match by 18 runs in the third match of the fifth day of the Abu Dhabi T10 at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday. An astonishing total of 262 runs were scored in the match.
For Gladiators, Tom Kohler-Cadmore stole the show through an unbeaten 82 runs off 33 balls with eight fours and six sixes backed by Nicholas Pooran’s 34 off 17 balls with three fours and two maximums.
Delhi Bulls fought back through Tim David’s 48 off 24 balls and Rilee Rossouw’s 28 runs. In the end, they fell short by 18 runs.
Delhi Bulls won the toss and elected to field.
They earned an early success when Imad Wasim had the dangerous Jason Roy out with the last ball of the first over.
Deccan Gladiators’ skipper Nicholas Pooran and Tom Kohler-Cadmore then took charge. Kohler-Cadmore hit Waqas Maqsood for a six and a boundary in the second over.
Richard Gleeson too was not spared being hit for two boundaries in the fourth over.
The fifth over from Dominic Darkes was fully utilized by both the batsmen, with 22 runs putting them in a strong position.
Keemo Paul, who bowled the sixth over, was also punished with Kohler-Cadmore hitting two sixes and a four. Eighteen runs came off that over.
Shiraz Ahmed was introduced for the seventh over, hoping for a breakthrough. Kohler-Cadmore did not spare him either and smashed him for a six and a four. They reached the 100-run mark in the seventh over.
The massacre of the bowling attack continued with 40 runs being scored in the final three overs as Kohler Cadmore remained unbeaten on 82 at the end of the innings.
Unfortunately, Delhi Bulls began on a poor note. They lost opener Rahkeem Cornwall for 2 in the first over itself.
Tom Banton picked two boundaries in the second over from Andre Russell to pick up 12 runs.
David Wiese, well known for his ability to bowl tight overs, lived up to his reputation and had Banton out with a tricky slower delivery in the third over.
UAE pacer Zahoor Khan bowled a tight fourth over giving away no boundaries. Though Rilee Rossouw hit Tom Helm for a six to long-on, only 11 runs came off the fifth over.
At the halfway mark, Delhi Bulls had scored only 47 for 2, with the required run rate shooting up to 18.80.
Tim David and Rilee Rossouw turned aggressive in the sixth over and hit Sultan Ahmed for 29 runs to remain alive in the contest.
Zahoor once again bowled a fine seventh over giving away just eight runs, putting the pressure back on the Bulls.
With 56 runs needed off the last three overs, Delhi Bulls found their hopes fading away. David continued to hit boundaries to keep them alive in the clash.
With 23 runs needed from six balls, Little got Rossouw out for 28, which ended Bulls’ hopes for a victory.
In the end, Deccan Gladiators emerged victorious by 18 runs.
Brief scores:
Deccan Gladiators 140/2 in 10 overs (Tom Kohler-Cadmore 82, Imad Wasim 1/17) beat Delhi Bulls 122/4 in 10 overs (Tim David 48, Josh Little 2/11) by 18 runs
Player of the Match: Tom Kohler-Cadmore
