Abu Dhabi, November 7: Defending champions UAE Bulls began their Abu Dhabi T10 title defence with a seven-wicket win over Yas Lions at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, before Emirates Eagles beat Royal Desert Champions by 16 runs in the second match of the 2026 tournament.
Fletcher and Nafay chase down 121 for UAE Bulls
The Bulls reached their target of 121 in 9.4 overs, with two balls to spare. Andre Fletcher made 68 off 34 balls, hitting three sixes and eight fours. He added 76 for the partnership with Khawaja Nafay in only 32 deliveries.
Nafay, who carried his form over from last season, scored 35 off 17 balls with two fours and three sixes.
Batting first, Yas Lions made 120/3. James Vince (32 off 19) and Andries Gous (19 off 17) put on 51 in 34 balls, but the Bulls’ bowlers kept the openers in check. The Lions then scored 56 runs in the last four overs. Dasun Shanaka made 23 off 10, while Karim Janat (27 not out off 9) and Jason Holder (14 not out off 5) finished strongly. Janat also took 2/10.
Powell finishes the job for Emirates Eagles
Captain Rovman Powell’s 41 not out off 16 balls, with four sixes and a four, lifted Emirates Eagles to 125/2. Kyle Mayers (39 off 19) and Alex Hales (22 off 17) had earlier added 64 in 34 deliveries. Powell and Shimron Hetmyer (15 not out off 11) then put on 60 in just 24 balls.
In reply, Royal Desert Champions lost Phil Salt for 4 off 2 balls to Trent Boult in the first over. Muhammad Waseem (13 off 9) and Nicholas Pooran (14 off 7) helped the chase, and Sherfane Rutherford’s 33 off 12 balls, with two fours and three sixes, kept them ahead of the required rate.
Chris Green ended Rutherford’s innings in the sixth over, with the score at 69/4. Boult and Hardus Viljoen then conceded only seven runs across two overs and took two wickets between them. Chris Jordan’s 27 off 17 came too late, and the innings closed at 109/7.
Brief scores
UAE Bulls beat Yas Lions by seven wickets: Yas Lions 120/3 in 10 overs (James Vince 32, Karim Janat 27*, Dasun Shanaka 23); UAE Bulls 121/3 in 9.4 overs (Andre Fletcher 68, Khawaja Nafay 35; Karim Janat 2/10).
Emirates Eagles beat Royal Desert Champions by 16 runs: Emirates Eagles 125/2 in 10 overs (Rovman Powell 41*, Kyle Mayers 39, Alex Hales 22; Chris Jordan 1/22); Royal Desert Champions 109/7 in 10 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 33, Chris Jordan 27, Nicholas Pooran 14; Trent Boult 2/14, Hardus Viljoen 2/19, Haider Razzaq 2/22).
Tournament context
The 10th edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 runs from 7 to 20 November. Read our earlier report on the UAE Bulls squad built around Kieron Pollard and on how Nicholas Pooran leads Royal Desert Champions, with Robin Singh as team director. For more, visit our international cricket news section.
