ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – All-rounder Andre Russell finally came good with a whirlwind half-century as Deccan Gladiators defeated Shimron Hetmyer’s Samp Army by eight wickets to surge into today’s final of the Abu Dhabi T10.
Chasing 120 for victory at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in yesterday’s playoffs, Gladiators were powered by Russell’s 63 off 32 deliveries at the top of the order, to get home with two balls to spare.
Russell clobbered seven fours and four sixes, dominating a 61-run opening stand with Englishman Tom Kohler-Cadmore (14) and a 44-run, second wicket partnership with former West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran who made 38.
The left-handed Pooran, Gladiators’ captain, lashed five fours and two sixes from a dozen deliveries.
Sent in earlier, Samp Army motored to 119 for two from their 10 overs, England’s Moeen Ali slamming a 29-ball unbeaten 78 with half-dozen fours and half-dozen sixes. Hetmyer (10) and West Indies teammate Johnson Charles (7) both failed.
In the final, Gladiators will meet Kieron Pollard’s New York Strikers who had also earlier defeated Samp Army by four wickets.
Charles (1) and Hetmyer (1) again failed in Samp Army’s modest 81 for nine after being sent in, West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2-7) and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul (2-6) finding success to limit the scoring in two-over spells.
In reply, Pollard suffered the pain of a first-ball ‘duck’ but Muhammad Waseem struck an unbeaten 36 from 16 deliveries to guide Strikers to victory with nine balls remaining.
Gladiators had eliminated Team Abu Dhabi in the first playoff of the day thanks to Odean Smith’s 15-ball 32, Russell failing to score and Pooran getting 14, in a five-run win.