The first Emirates D10 tournament ended with a thrilling last-ball finish on Friday night. Mohammed Usman hit the winning single off the last ball as ECB Blues finally ended the challenge of Fujairah Pacific Ventures. The ECB side is largely made up of UAE national team players, and as such they were the favourites before the 10-over tournament started. When it came to the final, it appeared as though they were going to stroll to the title, as they had their opposition 51 for six midway through the seventh over. Mohammed Ayaz and Sultan Ahmed took two wickets apiece, while young leg-spinner Adhitya Shetty went for just seven from his two overs. Luqman Hazrat gave Fujairah something to bowl at, though, as he struck an unbeaten 30 from 14 balls at the end of the innings to lift his side to 92 for six. The same man, in partnership with Sanchit Sharma, then gave the underdogs even more belief with a thrifty spell with the ball. In the third over, the ECB side were 16 for three, with all of their batting stars Vriitya Aravind, Chirag Suri and Rohan Mustafa already sent back to the cavernous dressing rooms at Dubai International Stadium. Usman and Mohammed Boota, who made 31 from 17 balls, then shared the decisive partnership. With one needed to win off the last ball, Usman hit Mohammed Wasim to deep mid-wicket to clinch the Dh5,000 first prize for the Blues.
