UAE’s Mohammed Waseem powered Northern Warriors with a 34-ball 76 to help seal to a dramatic last-ball win over Team Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi T10 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday.
With 15 needed from Jamie Overton’s final over, Waseem hit the first ball to the deep midwicket fence. That was followed by two wide deliveries to bring the equation down to nine from five.
The Warriors batsman pulled Overton’s second legal delivery over the square leg fence for a maximum but the tall medium pacer had him trapped in front with the Warriors needing three from three.
Nicholas Pooran sent the first ball he faced down Obed McCoy’s throat at long on. Lendl Simmons took a single off the next, leaving Rovman Powell with two runs for a win.
Powell flicked the final delivery to midwicket where Rohan Mustafa, one of the more reliable fielders among the local players, fumbled badly. The Warriors batsmen completed the second run and the team’s third win in the competition.
“I just tried to play my natural game,” Waseem, who dedicated his knock and the team’s win to his aunt who passed away in his native Pakistan, said.
“Of course I have to thank to my coach [UAE national team’s Robin Singh] and my captain [Pooran] for the trust they have in me.
“Robin sir has been working on my batting. He’s given me that confidence to go out there and perform. Most of my teammates have been playing in the big stages and I learnt a lot from them during this short period.”
Waseem, who smashed six sixes and seven fours, shared a 121-run stand from 57 balls with Simmons (37 off 25 balls) for the opening wicket while chasing the 124-run target.
“That wonderful partnership led us to the win and it's important to get us the two points,” Pooran added.
Pakistan pacer Riaz Wahab provided the perfect start for the Warriors by knocking back Paul Sterling’s off stump in the very first ball of the match.
Luke Wright hit a 15-ball 33 but fell when he hit one straight to Fabian Allen at deep midwicket.
Chris Gayle (2) was disappointing again as he mis-hit a full toss to Powell at mid-on a run later to give UAE medium pacer Junaid Siddique a moment to cherish.
Joe Clarke, with a 24-ball half century, and Ben Duckett (31 off 17) shared an 85-run stand to take the score to 123-3.
Earlier, UAE international Chirag Suri and Tom Moores starred in Bangla Tigers’ eight-wicket triumph over Pune Devils.
Suri (30 in 15 balls) and Moores (38 off 12) took their side over the line chasing 116 with an undefeated 50-run stand in 17 deliveries.
“At first, we came out with a plan with the ball, and we executed and fielded well,” Tigers captain Andre Fletcher said of his team’s second win in the competition.
“Tom played brilliantly with the back-up of Suri, who is in form and showing us what he can do.
“Suri has so much talent. He choose the right balls to hit. He plays so many different shots and has confidence, and that’s very important. I’m so happy because we needed that win.”
Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who fell two runs short of his third successive half century, gave the Devils another steady start.
He hit three sixes and four fours in his 25-ball knock while Alex Davies consolidated itwith a 21-ball 41 not out.
