Abu Dhabi, UAE – 16 November 2019: The first day of action at the Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 has shot off with three tension filled and electrifying matches, wowing fans and crowds in Abu Dhabi. His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, attended the opening night of the championship, addressing crowds and watching the home side, Team Abu Dhabi’s, very first match.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan’s visit to Zayed Cricket Stadium came ahead of the International Day of Tolerance on November 16. Being the custodian of the Tolerance Cup, which wrapped up an eight week tournament, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan spoke on the importance of cricket and sport fostering tolerance and unity. His Excellency presented the winners of the Tolerance Cricket Cup, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan’s very own cricketing league designed to foster tolerance in the UAE, with the winning trophy after the conclusion of the tournament, alongside touring the stadium and meeting fans of T10 cricket watching the action from the stands.

The night’s cricketing action saw the reigning champions, the Northern Warriors, cement victory over Dwayne Bravo’s Maratha Arabians, the Delhi Bulls snatch triumph from the hands of the Deccan Gladiators, and Team Abu Dhabi and Team Qalandars draw in a tight final game between the two finely matched sides.

Match Report 1 – Northern Warriors vs. Maratha Arabians

The Northern Warriors were ruthless in their defence of the Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 trophy. Winning the toss, they elected to field, bringing a fierce bowling attack against the Maratha Arabians. Opener Adam Lyth was dismissed on the very first ball by Chris Wood, and was followed by Chris Lynn on four and Chadwick Walton on 24. Renowned Indian cricketer, Yuvraj Singh, was blasted away by the bowling attack for six, leaving the Arabians on 35 for four after four short overs. All-rounders James Fuller and Dasun Shanaka tried to steady the ship, but both Fuller and then Wanindu Hasaranga lost their wickets. Arabians’ captain Dwayne Bravo desperately tried with Shananka to push their score higher, but the Arabians posted a target of 88 to chase.

England’s Sam Billings and Scotland’s George Munsey met legendary bowler Lasith Malinga at the crease to begin the Northern Warriors’ chase. The two batsmen played cautiously, and only scored 10 runs before Billings lost his wicket. Yet Billings’ wicket brought Russell out to the crease, who brought his classic big cricket to score his half-century in 21 balls. The Arabians’ bowling strategy was left in tatters after Malinga bowled three no-balls and one leg-bye in the space of an over. Munsey and Malinga smashed their way to 91 runs, winning the match for the Arabians by nine wickets with 18 balls remaining.

Speaking after the match, Player of the Match, the Northern Warriors’ Andre Russell commented: “It’s a good way to start the tournament, as defending champions. We batted and bowled well, and restricted them to 89, and that was our game plan. T10 is quick and spicy, and I don’t feel any nerves going out to bat, but bowling brings a lot of pressure, because you have to get the delivery right. Otherwise, the batsmen will be in business.”

Captain of the Maratha Arabians, Dwayne Bravo, said: “I think the fans got a good game of cricket for the opener, but unfortunately we finished on the losing side, but it hasn’t been a bad outing. It’s really good that the tournament has shifted to Abu Dhabi.”

Match Report 2 – Deccan Gladiators vs. Delhi Bulls

The Deccan Gladiators were put into bat by the Delhi Bulls, who won the toss. Afghan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad and the iconic Shane Watson opened the Gladiators’ batting, but Shahzad lost his wicket to Dushmatha Chameera at the end of the second over, leaving the Gladiators on 17. Kiwi batsman, Anton Devcich, joined Watson to bring some big Australasian hitting to the match. Watson smashed seven boundaries, wowing crowds, as the likes of Adil Rashid and Zaheer Khan tried to stymy the Gladiators. However, after some dropped dollys in the outfield, the Bulls couldn’t constrain Watson from a half century, and the Gladiators knocked 102 runs for 1.

Ireland’s Paul Stirling and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera began an aggressive chase for the Bulls, with Sterling scoring two sixes. Zahir Khan struck on his fifth delivery, as his ball hit Sterling plumb on the pads for 12. Muhammad Usman and Perera tried to find boundaries, but both were dismissed in the third over by the lightning balls of Zahir. Their dismissals brought out cricketing legends Angelo Mathews and Eoin Morgan, who worked on building a steady partnership before smashing balls for boundaries. The two frustrated the efforts of Gladiators’ bowlers, including Mason Crane and Zahoor Khan, as Morgan pulled 47 runs off 24 deliveries. The pair brought the Delhi Bulls’ score to 103, winning the game by seven wickets with a tight three balls remaining.

Eoin Morgan, captain of the Delhi Bulls, said in the post-match press conference: “I thought it was a tough chase, and very difficult out there to find our timing. But we managed with some luck to take our catching opportunities, and hold our nerves in such a short space of time, and now we have that all important momentum to carry us forward. I’m enjoying this format so far, and I’m really enjoying my cricket at the moment, and off the back of a successful series in New Zealand, confidence is high, and all my experience tells me that you need to make the most of the momentum you have built up.”

Speaking after the match, Deccan Gladiators’ captain, Shane Watson commented: “Ever since I first played in Abu Dhabi in 2009, I have loved playing here. It’s a beautiful wicket, and a beautiful city to host cricket, and everyone including me is delighted that the T10 has moved here for the next few years. I think it would’ve have been nice to have got 10 to 15 more runs on the scoreboard. We struggled towards the end our innings to clear the boundary – credit to the bowling of Delhi Bulls.”

Match Report 3: Team Abu Dhabi vs. Team Qalandars

After Team Qalandars elected to field, former captain of Sri Lanka Niroshan Dickwella opened Team Abu Dhabi’s batting, hitting big to bring the home side the upper hand in the game, but his expansive batting led to a big wicket for the Qalandars when he was dismissed for 17. Team captain Moeen Ali joined opener Luke Wright at the crease, adding 23 to Team Abu Dhabi’s total, but Moeen was caught on a dolly shot for 7 in the third over. Kiwi Corey Anderson joined Wright in Team Abu Dhabi’s innings at 42 for 4 overs, and worked to push for a high target to post for the Qalandars. Wright was dismissed for 11, being replaced by Nepalese big hitter Paras Khadka. The batsman worked hard against a restrictive bowling line up, but Anderson lost his wicket, after attempting to flick the ball to third man, on 43 off 22 balls. Qalandars got a final wicket with a run out on the final ball of the innings, leaving Team Abu Dhabi to post 103 for six in their first ever cricket match.

England rising star Tom Banton and New Zealand’s Luke Ronchi began the Qalandar’s chase with defensive playing, peppered with boundaries. Banton was struck on the pads by Richard Gleeson for 16, bringing on Qalandar’s captain Dawid Malan. Malan and Ronchi built a cautious partnership of 39 runs before Australian Ben Laughlin caught Captain Malan on 33. Ronchi and Phil Salt continued to build Qalandar’s partnership, inching closer to Team Abu Dhabi’s target of 103, and were eight runs away at the start of the final over. A boundary from Salt left Team Abu Dhabi fans in despair, as Qalandars required two runs to win, but South African bowler Marchant de Lange struck with the next ball, dismissing Salt for 22. The final ball of the match, delivered to Seekkuge Prasanna led to one run for Qalandars, and a drawn match between the two finely balanced teams, each posting a total of 103.

Captain of Team Abu Dhabi, Moeen Ali, said after the match: “We knew from the start that it was going to be a tight game and it was, and our belief carried us through that last over which was bowled beautifully. In those moments it’s important as a captain to keep my composure, and deliver a clear message to the team.”

Dawid Malan, captain of Team Qalandars, commented: “We are disappointed we didn’t come away with the win being in the strong position that we were coming up to last couple of overs but I’ll take a tie over a loss. I love the T10 format; it’s such an amazing way for cricket to adapt in order to attract more fans to the ground. The entertainment factor it provides gives it a big chance to become a regular fixture in the cricketing calendar and even make it all the way to the Olympics.”

The Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 action returns tomorrow night, with the Deccan Gladiators facing off against the prowling Bangla Tigers, the Delhi Bulls charging against the might of the Karnataka Tuskers, and Team Qalandars up against the fierce Northern Warriors. The tournament, which will run through to 24 November, is being broadcast in India on Sony Six and Sony Ten 3. To purchase tickets and hospitality passes, please visit: https://www.q-tickets.com/AbuDhabit10

About Abu Dhabi T10

Abu Dhabi T10 is a professional ten-over format cricket league launched by T10 Sports Management and licensed by the Emirates Cricket Board and approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body of international cricket. It is the first ever internationally approved ten-over format league.

Matches have 10-over-a-side format and duration of 45 minutes a side, totalling 90 minutes of play. The tournament is played over ten days, with a round robin followed by semi-finals and the final. In August 2018, the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially sanctioned the league.

 About Abu Dhabi Cricket

Abu Dhabi Cricket (ADC) is supported by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and operates under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan.

ADC is ushering in an exciting new era of cricket in Abu Dhabi with significant investment in facilities and operational upgrades. In addition to the iconic Zayed Cricket Stadium the venue now boasts the following impressive facilities: 2 x floodlit nursery cricket ovals, international standard cricket nets facility, 4 x floodlit netball courts, 5-a-side “Soccer City”, 4 x multi-purpose floodlit AstroTurf pitches and 5 x FIFA approved grass, floodlit football pitches.

ADC was founded on 20th November 1996, with the impressive Zayed Cricket Stadium, considered among the world’s best, being completed in 2005. The Stadium’s inaugural international match was staged between India and Pakistan in April 2006 and was attended by 20,000 enthusiastic fans.

Zayed Cricket Stadium has hosted numerous domestic and international matches since that day. The electric atmosphere of the Pakistan vs. India match was rivalled when the Indian Premier League arrived in 2014.

2018 saw the stadium’s biggest season to date with over 75,000 fans flooding the stands throughout the 2018 ACC Asia Cup, Pakistan vs. Australia series, Pakistan vs. New Zealand series and of course the inaugural Abu Dhabi T20 – during which six of the world’s biggest T20 franchises descended upon the UAE capital to vie for championship honours.

Though cricket is at the core of operations, ADC also prides itself on the world-class facilities available, catering to sportsmen and women of all ages and abilities from elite international players to community sports enthusiasts.

In addition to the international cricket season that was, ADC has also welcomed and hosted the likes of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) England Lions for their 2018 tour of the UAE, New Zealand’s All Black 7s and Black Fern 7s rugby teams ahead of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby 7s (of which both teams emerged champions) and Japan, Oman, Syria, China, Yemen, Iran, Thailand, India and South Korea’s football training camps ahead of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

The facility has also been used by several other international associations as a winter training destination, most notably many professional English County teams who return year after year for their pre-season camps.

The recent investments to develop the facility have truly ensured that ADC is known for more than cricket. Indeed, Abu Dhabi Cricket has become the home for a range of coaching academies, clubs, groups and schools for football, touch rugby, netball, basketball, squash and much more.

About Abu Dhabi Sports Council

Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) was established in 2006 by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

ADSC is aligned with the emirate’s leadership vision to develop sport and youth activities. The Council promotes an effective, emirate-wide sports calendar that stimulates the desire to participate in quality sports among all Abu Dhabi residents and helps the talented and motivated reach their sporting potential.

The Council also hosts and supports the staging of international world-class sporting events. These include: the annual Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA; the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; the ITU World Triathlon Series; the Gary Player Invitational; the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour, the Red Bull Air Race; the Mubadala World Tennis Championship; the 2017 and 2018 FIFA Club World Cups UAE; the 2019 AFC Asian Cup UAE and the UCI WorldTour event, The UAE Tour.

We at ADSC firmly believe that sporting events deliver a host of benefits for the emirate and its residents. These span improved health and wellness, the building of community spirit, the discovering of local talent and the delivery of international exposure of the emirate as a world-class sporting events hub.

Whether it is land, sea or air, we have sport covered.

For press enquiries please contact:

Matt Wickens
Four Communications
adcc@fourcommunications.com
+971 52 893 2016