Karim Janat smashed 33 off 11 balls and Tom Moores made an unbeaten 33 as Yas Lions beat United Tigers by 13 runs in the Abu Dhabi T10 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday, handing the tournament leaders their first defeat of the season.
United Tigers won the toss and chose to bowl, and for a while the decision looked a good one. James Vince made 14 and Andries Gous 20 before Dasun Shanaka fell for four, leaving the Lions on 50 for three after 5.1 overs. Janat then changed the game, smashing five sixes in a 33 off 11 balls at a strike rate of 300, and he added 49 for the fourth wicket with Moores. Moores finished unbeaten on 33 off 18 balls, with two fours and three sixes, as the Lions reached 115 for five. Azmatullah Omarzai was the pick of the Tigers bowlers with two for 12, while Awais Ali took two for 20 and Abbas Afridi one for 14.
The Tigers chase began in familiar fashion, with Sahibzada Farhan making 13 before captain Fakhar Zaman took charge. Fakhar, who had made an unbeaten 45 in the win over Royal Desert Champions, top-scored again with 44 off 23 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes, and added 49 for the second wicket with Joe Clarke, who made 15 off seven. But when Fakhar fell at 77 for three in the seventh over, the chase stalled. Omarzai was left unbeaten on 10 off 11 balls, Iftikhar Ahmed retired out for 13, and the Tigers closed on 102 for five, 14 runs short of a target that had looked well within reach.
Akeal Hosein was the pick of the Lions bowlers with one for seven from his two overs, while David Willey took one for 15 and captain Jason Holder one for 23. The Lions’ discipline at the death, after the early fireworks from Fakhar, proved the difference in a game between the two form sides of the tournament.
The defeat was the Tigers’ first in four games, after wins over Arabian Aces, UAE Bulls and Royal Desert Champions, but they stay top of the table on six points. The Lions, meanwhile, moved to four points from three games with their second win of the season, and are right back in the race for the top four. The action continues later on Tuesday night, when UAE Bulls face Emirates Eagles in the tenth match of the tournament.
Related:
- United Tigers Make It Three From Three as Fakhar Zaman’s 45 Not Out and Abbas Afridi’s 3 for 10 Sink Royal Desert Champions — https://t20star.com/united-tigers-make-it-three-from-three-as-fakhar-zamans-45-not-out-and-abbas-afridis-3-for-10-sink-royal-desert-champions/
- Paul Walter’s 82 Off 29 Powers Arabian Aces to 10-Wicket Win Over Emirates Eagles in Abu Dhabi T10 — https://t20star.com/paul-walters-82-off-29-powers-arabian-aces-to-10-wicket-win-over-emirates-eagles-in-abu-dhabi-t10/
