In the 26th match of the Abu Dhabi T10 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Bangla Tigers showed no bravery at all, sweeping aside Chennai Braves with a 27-run victory. Following a rapid start of 20 runs from Robin Uthappa in his debut match, Kusal Mendis (32) and Dasun Shanaka (34) gave the Bangla Tigers a formidable total of 126 for 5 in the ten overs. Despite taking three wickets for fifteen runs, Mohammad Nabi was unable to stop Chennai’s run scoring.
Chennai’s chase then failed to rise to the challenge. The only brave innings came from skipper Charith Asalanka who cracked 55 runs off the 26 balls with eight boundaries and two sixes. Through a fine display of tight bowling led by Haider Ali with two wickets for 17 runs, Bangla Tigers restricted Chennai to 99 for 6 in 10 overs. This win helped the Bangla Tigers move to the fourth slot with eight points. Bangla Tigers got off to an electrifying start with Robin Uthappa hitting the first two deliveries of the innings from Chris Soles for boundaries over short fine leg and extra cover. Nine runs came off the first over.
Bangla Tigers got off to an electrifying start with Robin Uthappa hitting the first two deliveries of the innings from Chris Soles for boundaries over short fine leg and extra cover. Nine runs came off the first over. In the second over, Uthappa also struck a long-off boundary off Obed McCoy. Daniel Sams, the first batsman, was dismissed for just one run when veteran leg spinner Imran Tahir struck with the second ball of the third over. Tahir was not spared either, as Uthappa hit his fourth delivery over the bowler’s head for a six. Then, as Uthappa was settling in, UAE’s accurate bowler Junaid Siddique got him caught by Tahir at short fine leg with the second ball of the third over for 20. Avishka Fernando was caught by George Munsey at long-on for five runs by Nabi, the bowler of the fifth over, with the third delivery. At the halfway point, the Bangla Tigers scored 50 runs.
Mendis hit Siddique for two boundaries to remove 15 runs from the over as he bowled the eighth over. However, Nabi removed Mendis at 99 after he was caught for 32 by a diving Munsey at long on. He struck two boundaries and two sixes in his 15-ball knockoff. Additionally, Nabi clean bowled Shanaka for 34 runs. He hit two sixes and three boundaries in his 15-ball knock. Benny Howell, the skipper, hit two massive sixes over mid-wicket and square leg with McCoy’s second ball of the final over. On 16, Howell stayed undefeated by slapping McCoy to the third man for a boundary. After McCoy gave up 24 runs in that over, the Bangla Tigers set a formidable target.
Jason Roy and Kobe Herft, the openers for the Chennai Braves, needed to get off to a strong start. With the final ball of the first over, Daniel Sams had Roy out for one after he was caught by Brathwaite at short third man off a leading edge. In that over, only two runs were scored. In his second over, Rohan Mustafa also bowled tightly, giving Munsey just a boundary. Howell got Munsey caught and bowled for five with the opening ball of the third over. With grace, Asalanka hit Howell through the covers for a boundary, then lifted for additional cover. Asalanka struck Shannon Gabriel’s fifth ball of the fourth over for a six-over fine leg, but more big hits were required.
As he attempted a slog sweep, Haider Ali clean bowled Herft, who needed ten balls to score six runs, off an arm ball. After joining Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksha scored three runs off of just three balls before lifting Haider to Shanka at deep cover. With the score at 36 for 4, and Chennai needing to score 91 runs in the final five overs, the Bangla Tigers had established a commanding lead by the halfway point of the match. Asalanka kept up her fluid stroke work, hitting Haider with another elegant cover drive and a six-over long off. However, 66 runs were required in the final three overs. Using the opening ball of the eighth over, Mustafa clean bowled Nabi. That brought Vriitya Aravind of the UAE to the crease.
Asalanka hit two boundaries in Sams’ ninth over to reach his half-century in 24 balls. Asalanka and Aravind (12n.o) shared a 37-run partnership in 15 balls for the sixth wicket. Asalanka sliced Drakes into Sams’ hands at deep cover for 55. Only 99 for 6 could Chennai muster in their ten overs.
Quick scores: Bangla Tigers (20 Robin Uthappa, 32 Kusal Mendis, 34 Dasun Shanaka, and 3/15) score 126/5 in 10 overs. Bangalore Knight Riders 99/6 in 10 overs (Haider Ali 2/17, Charith Asalanka 55)
