Piyush Chawla turned back the clock on Tuesday night, producing a brilliant 3/11 to power the Ajman Titans to a convincing 34-run win over the Vista Riders at the 2025 Abu Dhabi T10. The result lifts the Titans to second place on the points table, swapping spots with the Riders.

Batting first, the Titans posted 105/7, a total built around Alex Hales’ steady 35 off 21 and Dan Lawrence’s lively 22 off 13. The pair stitched together a crucial 42-run stand off just 26 balls after the innings wobbled early due to Andrew Tye’s sharp spell of 2/25.

Awais Ahmad (2/15) and Dhananjaya Lakshan (2/18) hit back for the Riders, but Chris Green’s late cameo, 11 off 5, including 14 runs in the final over, ensured Ajman finished with a competitive score.

The Riders began the chase brightly thanks to Unmukt Chand, who cracked three consecutive fours off Wasim Akram in the opening over. But the momentum shifted quickly.

Akif Javed (2/16) struck the big blow by removing Faf du Plessis in the second over, before Chawla took over.

The veteran spinner dismissed Chand in the third over, then returned to clean up Ansh Tandon (8 off 11) and Sean Dickson (7 off 13) in the seventh, breaking the Riders’ backbone and leaving them no room to recover.

Vista Riders eventually crawled to 71/7, the lowest total of the 2025 season so far, sealing their second defeat.

Gurbaz and Rutherford power Aspin Stallions to massive 134/2

In the night’s second fixture, the Aspin Stallions unleashed fireworks of their own, smashing 134/2 in just 10 overs against the Deccan Gladiators, the highest score of the evening.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz led the charge with a blistering 48 off 24, peppered with six fours and two sixes. His opening stand with Andre Fletcher (10 off 11) was worth 44 runs in the first four overs before Noor Ahmad (2/19) broke through.

But any hopes of slowing the Stallions died quickly.
Sherfane Rutherford exploded late with a roaring 48 off 18, hammering seven fours and two sixes. Ben Cutting added a rapid 15 off 7, including a towering six.

The final over alone leaked 22 runs and three sixes, sending the Stallions to a formidable total.

(At the time of this release, only the first innings of the match was completed.)

Faf du Plessis has been right at the heart of Vista Riders’ impressive debut campaign in the Abu Dhabi T10, and he’s loving every bit of the chaos, pace and pressure that cricket’s fastest format brings.

With three wins in four games and back-to-back victories lifting the Riders to second place, Du Plessis says momentum is everything in a tournament where the margins are razor-thin.

“Every match in the Abu Dhabi T10 is extremely intense,” he said.

“It’s always nice to win two in a row. When you get a couple of wins together, it builds the momentum that’s so crucial in this format. There are a lot of strong teams here, so making the knockouts isn’t easy, but we want to go far.”

On teaming up with Sreesanth

One thing Faf didn’t expect this season? Sharing the dressing room and the new-ball pressure moments with S Sreesanth.

“I remember Sreesanth swinging the bat in the air in South Africa against Andre Nel a few years ago,” he recalled with a smile.

“Now it feels great to be on the same team as him. He’s always been incredibly passionate. He swings the ball beautifully, and when there’s a bit of movement in the air, he really helps us in crucial phases.”

A half-century at a strike rate of 212, and elite fitness at 37

Du Plessis has already made his presence felt with the bat. His first fifty of the season came against Northern Warriors on November 23, striking at a blistering strike rate of 212 and guiding Vista Riders to a comfortable chase with four balls to spare.

At 37, his fitness remains a talking point, and he says there’s nothing magical about it, just unwavering discipline.

“I put consistent effort into all areas,” he explained.

“I train four to five times a week at the gym and pay close attention to diet and nutrition. Recovery is just as important, including sleep, ice baths, and saunas. It’s a holistic approach.”

What’s next

With confidence high and performances clicking, Vista Riders now turn their focus to Ajman Titans, sitting sixth on the table. A win today at Sheikh Zayed Stadium would further strengthen their charge toward the playoffs in their first-ever T10 season.

Ajman Titans’ left-arm pacer Wasim Akram, yes, the bowler who shares his name with Pakistani fast bowling legend Wasim Akram, delivered a standout performance in the Abu Dhabi T10 on Sunday, grabbing 2/7 in a fiery two-over spell to set up a comfortable seven-wicket win over Royal Champs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

For the 30-year-old, living with the name “Wasim Akram” is both a blessing and a burden.

“My father is a huge fan of the legend, so he named me after him,” he said. 

“It is pressure. It’s such a big name. Even if I fail, it feels like I’m letting the name down. I try to take care of it.”

Turns out, he’s doing more than that.

Akram shared that he has actually met the original Sultan of Swing and even picked up bowling tips from him. “I still watch his videos and study his bowling,” he added, smiling.

Titans find their groove

The Titans didn’t have the smoothest start to the tournament, losing their first two games. But back-to-back wins have lifted spirits, and Akram believes it all comes down to getting the right combination on the field.

“I think we found our combination after the first few games,” he said. “The results show it. If we keep going like this, we can win more matches.”

Bowling hard lengths in a batter’s game

Bowling in T10 is often described as a nightmare, but Akram shrugged off the idea.

“If your variation is good and you can execute it, there’s no problem—T10 or any format,” he said. “I just stick to my hard length, always.”

He also praised the learning culture within the Titans camp. “All of us bowlers try to learn from one another. Zaman Khan’s slower ball is brilliant, so I try to pick that up from him as much as I can.”

Dreaming of the UAE cap

And there’s a bigger goal on the horizon—one he’s inching closer to.

“Yes, I hope to play for the UAE,” he said. “I still have around three to four months left before I’m eligible, but that’s the dream.”

With performances like this, the dream feels very much within reach.