Sherfane Rutherford smashed 40 off 13 balls as Royal Desert Champions finally opened their account in Abu Dhabi T10 2026, beating the defending champions UAE Bulls by six wickets with five balls to spare at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The Bulls, put in to bat by RDC captain Nicholas Pooran, made 123 for 7 in their 10 overs. Maheesh Theekshana had Aneurin Donald stumped by Phil Salt in the first over, but Khawaja Nafay, with 27 off 11 balls, and Andre Fletcher, with 17, added 44 off 21 balls for the second wicket. Gulbadin Naib then turned the innings with two wickets in two balls in the fifth over, having Nafay caught by Muhammad Waseem and running out Fletcher, to leave the Bulls on 56 for 3.
Captain Kieron Pollard hit 23 off 10 balls before Chris Jordan had him caught by Waseem at 87 for 4, and the lower order could not lift the total much further. Romario Shepherd made 12, Sunil Narine 10, and Tahir Zaman was run out, leaving Shadab Khan unbeaten on 15 off seven balls as the Bulls closed on 123 for 7, helped by eight byes.
The chase began brightly. Salt hit three sixes in 22 off 10 balls, and he and Brandon King, who made 10, put on 31 off 13 balls for the first wicket. Then Shadab turned the game on its head. He trapped King lbw and bowled Salt in the same over, and Nuwan Thushara had Pooran caught behind by Fletcher with the next ball, leaving RDC on 34 for 3 and needing 90 from 41 balls.
Rutherford and Waseem answered with a match-winning 74 off 25 balls for the fourth wicket. Rutherford struck five fours and three sixes in his 40 off 13 before Shadab had him caught by Nafay at 108 for 4, but Waseem stayed to the end, finishing on 35 not out off 18 balls, and Gulbadin Naib, eight not out including a six, helped RDC home at 124 for 4 in 9.1 overs. Shadab finished with 3 for 15, but it was not enough, and Rutherford was named player of the match. Waseem also took three catches in the field.
The result is RDC’s first win after three defeats and lifts them level on points with the Bulls, who have now lost three of their four games and three in a row. The United Tigers still lead the table on six points, ahead of the Yas Lions and the Arabian Aces on four each. The action continues later on Wednesday with the Arabian Aces against the Yas Lions, while RDC are next in action against the Lions on Friday.
Related:
- Karim Janat and Tom Moores Fire Yas Lions to 13-Run Win as United Tigers Suffer First Defeat in Abu Dhabi T10 — https://t20star.com/karim-janat-and-tom-moores-fire-yas-lions-to-13-run-win-as-united-tigers-suffer-first-defeat-in-abu-dhabi-t10/
- 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/
