Abu Dhabi(PNP): Aspin Stallions climbed to second in the 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 standings with a confident 6-wicket win over the UAE Bulls, boosting their qualification prospects. The chase was shaped by rapid top-order hitting from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Andre Fletcher and an explosive finishing act from Ben Cutting, after Phil Salt and Tim David had earlier powered the Bulls to a competitive total.
The Bulls’ innings centred around Phil Salt’s blistering 44 off 17 balls. Salt and Tom Moores laid a strong foundation with a 58-run stand, off 30 deliveries, before Moores retired out on 24. Salt then added a brisk 23 off 10 with Tim David, who went on to hammer 35 off 15, featuring three sixes. David also stitched a 26-run partnership off 13 with Romario Shepherd, who was run out in the final over. The Bulls closed at 119/5 from their 10 overs.
Chasing 120, the Stallions were immediately on the charge. Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed 29 off 10, including four fours and two sixes, to set the tone, while Andre Fletcher matched the aggression with 30 off 15 before a run-out ended their 46-run partnership. Despite Fazalhaq Farooqi bowling Gurbaz in the fifth over, Aspin maintained control.
Ben Cutting then transformed the chase with a devastating 25-run seventh over, accelerating to 39 off 18 with three fours and four sixes. His assault reduced the requirement to 17 from 12 balls, supported by Sherfane Rutherford’s steady rotation of strike. Cutting fell going big, caught at the boundary off Muhammad Rohid with nine needed off eight. Sam Billings kept calm at the finish, guiding the chase with a well-placed boundary in the final over to secure victory with three balls remaining.
Northern Warriors post modest target of 81 for the Royal Champs
Northern Warriors, aiming to keep their playoff hopes alive after a commanding 35-run win over the UAE Bulls, posted a modest 80/4 against the already-eliminated Royal Champs. With three wins from six and needing victory to stay in control of their qualification chances, the Warriors endured a sluggish start. Colin Munro fell for cheap in the first over to Daniel Sams, who delivered an excellent 3/12. The Warriors crawled to 13 in the powerplay before Liam Dawson removed Dinesh Chandimal in the fourth.
Johnson Charles (20 off 17) and Shimron Hetmyer (22 off 15) tried to rebuild but struggled for elevation, reaching only 36/2 at halfway. Hetmyer briefly shifted gears with a four and a six in the sixth over, while Charles added another boundary. But Sams returned to dismantle the stand, removing both batters to regain control for the Champs.
Odean Smith managed one late six, but with boundaries hard to come by, the Warriors closed at an underwhelming 80/4, leaving their qualification fate vulnerable.
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