Emirates D10 tournament off to a thrilling start with a tie in Dubai - in pictures

ECB Blues and Dubai Pulse Secure both post 126 in opening 10-over match on Friday, former declared winners on boundary countback

ECB Blues' Chirag Suri bats during the opening match of the Emirates D10 tournament against Dubai Pulse Secure (DPS) at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

ECB Blues' Vriitya Aravind hits a four during the match against DPS in the Emirates D10 tournament on Friday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

DPS' Fahad Tariq takes the wicket of ECB Blues' Rohan Mustafa on Friday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abu Dhabi team coach Dougie Brown at the Emirates D10 on Friday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The umpire signals a six during the match between the ECB Blues and DPS in the Emirates D10 on Friday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

ECB Blues' Vriitya Aravind hits a six on Friday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

ECB Blues' Vriitya Aravind top-scored with 83 against Dubai at the Emirates D10. Chris Whiteoak / The National

ECB Blues' Vriitya Aravind plays a ramp shot in Dubai on Friday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Vriitya Aravind celebrates his 50. Chris Whiteoak / The National

ECB Blues' Vriitya Aravind against Dubai Pulse Secure. Chris Whiteoak / The National

ECB Blues' Muhammad Usman is bowled by Shafaqat Ali on Friday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

ECB Blues' Muhammad Usman is bowled by Dubai's Shafaqat Ali. Chris Whiteoak / The National

ECB Blues' Chirag Suri walks off after being caught on Friday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai's Fahad Tariq after taking the wicket of ECB Blues' Rohan Mustafa. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The new Emirates D10 tournament got off to an exciting start at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday.

The Emirates Cricket Board Blues were the favourites in their opening match against Dubai Pulse Secure (DPS) despite players just returning from the pandemic-enforced break. After all, their side was brimming with national team players.

But the unpredictability of the 10-over format came to the fore as the match ended in a tie. The Blues posted 126/3 thanks mainly to Vriitya Aravind's scintillating 83 not out from just 29 balls after openers Rohan Mustafa and Chirag Suri fell in the second over.

The Blues must have thought they had enough. But almost all DPS batsmen put pressure on ECB players, who showed signs of rust.

Seamer Mohammad Ayaz bowled the final over, defending 18 runs. He was hit for two boundaries off the first three balls, with the second ball a wide that leaked two extra runs.

The Blues could have secured victory with three needed from the final ball but a sloppy bit of fielding saw the keeper miss a run out chance and allow the opposition to complete two runs and secure a tie.

However, ECB Blues were declared winners on the boundary countback rule, having hit 19 compared to DPS' 15.

The tournament features five teams representing the country's respective cricket councils.

The Emirates D10 has 34 matches in total, running until Friday, August 7.