T10: Pollard’s blitz futile; Pooran fails but Warriors win

Nicholas Pooran had a rare off-day in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, but several of his fellow West Indians turned up on Monday, including West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard.

Pollard struck a brutal 47 off 18 balls after opener Sunil Narine went for a first-ball duck to lead Deccan Gladiators to 118-7. The powerfully built right-hander smashed four sixes and four fours and received support from Azam Khan (22).

USA fast bowler Ali Khan produced splendid figures of 2-4 off two overs, while Amad Butt took 2-20, and Fidel Edwards and Dwayne Bravo picked up a wicket each.

Pollard’s blitz would prove futile and Rahmanullah Gurbaz and two West Indians eclipsed the target in 8.1 overs with just two wickets down.

Gurbaz, who cracked 47 off 20 (7x4s, 2x6s) and Evin Lewis, who clobbered four sixes in 35 off 14, raced to 90 in 4.5 overs for the first wicket, effectively sealing the match.

Sherfane Rutherford then closed out the contest with 28* off 13 (2x4s, 2x6s), as Imran Tahir claimed both wickets.

In the other game on Monday, Pooran, who came into the game on the back of 89 off 26 and 54 off 21, fell first ball, but Northern Warriors were able to complete an eight-wicket win off the final delivery against Team Abu Dhabi.

Chasing 124, Warriors were given a start of 121 in 9.3 overs by Waseem Muhammad and Lendl Simmons. After Muhammad fell for 76 off 34 (7x4s, 6x6s), Pooran was dismissed next ball, but Warriors got home off the last ball.

Simmons was not out at the end on 37 off 25 (4x4s, 2x6s).

Team Abu Dhabi’s 123-3 was built on Joe Clarke’s 50 off 24, Luke Wright’s 33 off 15 and Ben Duckett’s 31 off 17 after Chris Gayle fell for two.

It was Gayle’s fourth single-figure score in as many innings in the T10 League this season.