The 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 saw a thrilling contest at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, where the Northern Warriors secured a narrow four-run victory over the Aspen Stallions. After losing their opening match, the Warriors were eager to turn things around.
Batting first, the Warriors posted a solid total of 114 runs for the loss of just one wicket. Johnson Charles played a pivotal role in this effort, finishing the innings unbeaten on 55. The innings began cautiously, with Hazratullah Zazai managing only eight runs before falling to Binura Fernando at the end of the second over.
Once Zazai was dismissed, Charles took command of the batting. He hit a six and two fours in a single over, helping the Warriors to 32 runs by the third over. Colin Munro, who contributed 38 not out, added a six of his own shortly thereafter. Despite Harbhajan Singh’s attempts to slow the scoring, Munro’s boundaries kept the Warriors on track as they reached 65/1 after six overs.
Charles quickly brought up his half-century off just 29 balls. The partnership with Munro flourished, yielding a remarkable 102 runs off 55 balls. Although the Warriors ended their innings with a quiet final over, they set a competitive target of 114.
In response, the Stallions’ chase started promisingly. Andre Fletcher hit two early boundaries off Trent Boult, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz looked aggressive, racing to 29 runs off just 11 balls. After the loss of Fletcher to Taskin Ahmed, Avishka Fernando kept the momentum going with an impressive 33 runs, while Gurbaz continued to clear the ropes.
However, Gurbaz’s innings ended abruptly when he mistimed a shot, leading to a catch by Thisara Perera off Odean Smith. Shahnawaz Dahani’s tight bowling put the pressure on the Stallions, and Tabraiz Shamsi’s economical overs resulted in the dismissal of Du Plooy, leaving the Stallions at 70/3 after six overs.
As the chase progressed, Saif Hassan attempted to revive the innings with a six and a four. Nevertheless, Taskin shifted the tides once more by catching Fernando, leaving the Stallions needing 34 runs from the last three overs. Sam Billings contributed 12 not out, helping to bring the required runs down to just eight off the final over.
Dahani was given the crucial task of bowling the last over. He executed it brilliantly, allowing only two runs and taking two wickets, including Hassan at the boundary. With five needed off the final delivery, Billings could not connect with Dahani’s accurate delivery, sealing a dramatic victory for the Warriors. The match showcased the intensity and excitement characteristic of T10 cricket, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.