The final of the 2022 T10 League in Abu Dhabi saw the Deccan Gladiators beat the New York Strikers by 37 runs in a 60-ball game. The Nicholas Pooran-led team, which also has Indian legend Suresh Raina, scored 128 runs for 4 wickets in 10 overs and in response, the strikers, captained by Kieron Pollard, could score only 91 runs.
It was a brilliant performance by the Gladiators who beat Team Abu Dhabi in the Eliminator. They then went on to beat Morrisville Samp Army in the second qualifier on Saturday, December 3, to reach the final at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
In the first innings, Pooran shared a 74-run partnership with David Wiese to bring their team back from 54 runs for the loss of three wickets after Pollard won the toss and chose to bowl first. Pooran and Wiese put the Strikers' bowlers to the test, with the West Indian scoring 40 runs in 23 balls with five fours and a six, and Wiese scoring an unbeaten 43 runs in 18 balls with two fours and four sixes.
The Gladiators finished their innings with 128 runs to their name and lost just four wickets in 10 overs. Meanwhile, Suresh Raina failed to shine for his side. Opening the batting for the Gladiators, who could only score seven runs in five balls.
In the second innings, Pollard's side, chasing 129 runs to win the trophy, were unable to keep up with their opponents, and eventually flopped as their wickets fell at regular intervals. In the end, they only managed to score 91 runs, losing wickets in their stipulated 10 overs.
It was a complete collapse for the opening order of the Strickers' batting line-up with the top three — Paul Stirling (6 off 3) Muhammad Waseem (0 off 1) and Eoin Morgan (0 off 5) — only managing six runs between them. Then, Azam Khan, Jordan Thompson and skipper Pollard entered the field for their side, but the three of them were unable to score the runs required to prevent the Deccan Gladiators from retaining the trophy.
Earlier, Morrisville Samp Army beat Team Abu Dhabi in the third-place playoff game. Setting a target of 127/2 courtesy of Andries Gous (68 runs in 33 balls), Morrisville dismissed their opponents for just 48 runs to clinch third place.
