ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein ripped through the top order with a three-wicket burst as Delhi Bulls crashed for a record low in a chastening 67-run defeat to Kieron Pollard’s New York Strikers.
Chasing only 99 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium here yesterday, Bulls collapsed to 31 all out with three balls left in the innings – the lowest-ever total in the seven-year history of the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Hosein was superb with the new ball to finish with three for seven from two overs while Sri Lankan Chamika Karunaratne captured three for seven.
The 30-year-old Hosein removed West Indies counterpart Johnson Charles for a first-ball ‘duck’ to the second ball of the chase and then knocked over England’s James Vince next ball, also for a first-ball ‘duck’.
Hosein returned in his next over, the third of the innings, to account for Usman Khan for three before Karunaratne got stuck into the remainder of the lineup.
Karunaratne removed captain Rovman Powell for two and veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, also for a first-ball ‘duck’.
Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz had earlier top-scored with an unbeaten 49 off 24 balls as Strikers rallied to 98 for four from their ten overs.
West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith also chipped in with a swift 15-ball unbeaten 25, striking a four and a brace of sixes, and partnering with Rahmanullah in an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 63.
In the other game played at the venue, West Indies speedster Shannon Gabriel picked up two wickets for two runs from two overs as his Bangla Tigers beat Kyle Mayers’s Team Abu Dhabi by nine wickets.
