Deccan Gladiators captain Wahab Riaz gave a hug to Andre Russell in delight at the end of the final Abu Dhabi T10 League and why not. After all, it was Russell’s ruthless display of batting that had anchored the team to the title win. Deccan defeated Delhi Bulls by 56 runs to be crowned as champions.
Riding on Russell and Cadmore’s unbeaten stand of 159 runs for the first wicket, the Gladiators got themselves in front right from the beginning. While the two batters chipped in with individual fifties, the bowlers did their job pretty well too and restricted Delhi Bulls to 103/7 in 10 overs.
Dre Russ derails Delhi Bulls’ bowling
Carnage. The word that probably depicts Andre Russell’s knock against Delhi Bulls perfectly. Russell, who hadn’t really been running barring a couple of games in the competition, chose the perfect occasion to get some in his kitty. Coming out to bat with Kohler-Cadmore, the two batters didn’t really waste much time and began the onslaught soon.
Both the batsmen and especially Russell were in such great touch with the bat that nothing really worked against them. The Yorkers were converted into full tosses while the shorter ones were pulled away to get dispatched for maximums.
The right-hander remained unbeaten at 90 off 32 deliveries, a knock that included seven maximums and nine fours during the course. While Russell scored the majority of runs, Kohler-Cadmore also looked in a brilliant knick.
He chipped in with a 28-ball 59*, courtesy five sixes and three fours.
Wahab Riaz’s captaincy
The Gladiators’ skipper Wahab Riaz showed his experience not with the ball but with his captaincy. The left-handed bowler unleashed some good work with the way he used the services of his bowlers.
The Delhi Bulls lost their first wicket in the second over itself after Odean Smith removed Gurbaz for 14 and then followed it with the dismissal of Rutherford on the very next delivery.
Wahab then got in Wanindu Hasaranga in the middle overs to negotiate the likes of Eoin Morgan and the spinner responded in the perfect manner of what the doctor ordered.
Hasaranga first scalped the wicket of Morgan (13 off 8) after he played one in the air to give a catch to Wiese and then got rid off Hemraj who was looking dangerous at one end. Hemraj was dismissed for a well-compiled 42 off 20.
To add to this, Riaz saved Tymal Mills’ overs for the end and only brought him in the attack in the seventh over. The left-arm pacer was on song as he just gave 4 runs in two overs and picked up a couple of wickets.
‘The no-strategy’ from Bulls’ batting line up
The way Russell and Cadmore batted, the Gladiators had already stamped their authority but there were some lapses from Delhi Bulls’ batting unit as well.
Barring Hemraj, none of the batsmen tried to stay at the crease. Ofcourse, the ever mounting asking rate also put them under pressure but the early loss of wickets had pushed them on the back foot.
Captain Wahab Riaz lavished praise on Andre Russell for the kind of innings that he played after the match. “The big man, Dre Russ stood up in the final. The way the team responded was very good,” he said.