Deccan Gladiators registered a place in the final of the T10 League after beating Delhi Bulls in Qualifier 1 in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Chasing 140 in 10 overs, the Delhi Bulls team was looking pretty steady in the run chase but an impressive piece of bowling at the end from Tymal Mills pushed them on the back foot.
Openers Gurbaz and Chandrapaul Hemraj had put 36 on the board for the first wicket. The Bulls did lose wickets at regular intervals but the batsmen continued to put up runs on the board before the 8th over where they could only manage to get 6 runs and the asking rate jumped massively.
Later, they needed 34 off the final over but could only score 16 to eventually be restricted to 122/5 and suffer a defeat by 17 runs.
Earlier, riding on some brisk stroke play from Russell, David Wiese and Odean Smith, the Gladiators posted 139/4 in 10 overs. While Russell struck 39 off 14, Wiese remained unbeaten at 15-ball 31. Smith also returned not out for 30 off 11.
For Delhi Bulls, it was once again Dominic Drakes who was the pick of the bowlers after he returned with figures of 3/15 in 2 overs.
Delhi will now meet the winner of the Eliminator match in the second qualifier to fight it out for a place in the final.