Yas Lions captain Jason Holder delivered a decisive all-round performance to guide his side to a 29-run victory over Arabian Aces in the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, securing their second consecutive win.

Holder struck an explosive 21 off just seven balls before returning to claim three wickets for 11 runs in his two overs as the Lions defended their total of 132 for five, restricting the Aces to 103 for seven in 10 overs.

Chasing 133, Arabian Aces suffered an early collapse as Holder struck twice in the second over. He dismissed Paul Walter, who made 10 off seven balls, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who managed just one off three deliveries, with Tom Moores and Ansh Tandon taking the catches respectively.

David Willey compounded the Aces’ problems in the following over, removing Liam Livingstone for a duck with Holder completing the catch. The Aces were reduced to 14 for three before Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissed skipper Moeen Ali for 15 off 11 balls, caught by Khuzaima Tanveer.

Andre Russell attempted to revive the chase with a quickfire 29 off 14 deliveries, combining with Sam Billings to add 36 runs in just 14 balls. However, Willey broke the partnership by having Billings, who scored 12 off seven balls, caught behind by Andries Gous.

Holder then returned to dismiss Russell and leave the Aces needing 58 runs from the final 14 deliveries. Alishan Sharafu contributed 22 off 10 balls, but Akeal Hosein removed him, with Ansh Tandon taking the catch. Arabian Aces eventually finished on 103 for seven, 29 runs short of the target.

Earlier, Yas Lions had posted 132 for five after a strong middle-order partnership between Dasun Shanaka and Tom Moores transformed their innings.

The Lions lost James Vince, who scored 14 off eight balls, to Russell before Alzarri Joseph dismissed Andries Gous for 16 off 10 deliveries inside the first four overs.

Shanaka and Moores then took charge, adding 66 runs from just 25 balls. Shanaka remained unbeaten on 38 off 17 deliveries, while Moores made 35 off 16. Both batters struck four sixes apiece to put the Lions in a commanding position.

Richard Gleeson provided a late breakthrough for the Aces, taking two wickets in the eighth over by dismissing Moores and Karim Janat, who scored two off three balls.

Holder joined Shanaka for the closing stages and helped add 32 runs in the final two overs. The Lions skipper smashed 21 off just seven deliveries, including two sixes, before being run out off the final ball of the innings as Yas Lions finished on 132 for five.

Holder’s contribution in both innings proved decisive, giving the Lions their second win in as many days and keeping their campaign on an upward trajectory.

Afghanistan all-rounder Karim Janat produced a match-winning display of power-hitting as Yas Lions defeated United Tigers by 13 runs in the Abu Dhabi T10, handing the Tigers their first defeat of the season.

Janat turned the contest around with a blistering innings after the Lions had slipped to 50 for three. He launched consecutive sixes against Abbas Afridi before repeating the feat against Faheem Ashraf in the following over. Alongside Tom Moores, he lifted Yas Lions to 115 for five.

United Tigers, who had won their first three matches, were restricted to 102 for five in reply.

“There is a saying in cricket that if it is a cricketer’s day, he can do anything,” Janat said after the match, reflecting on his decisive contribution.

Pakistan T20I captain Sahibzada Farhan, who opened the batting for the Tigers, acknowledged that Janat’s innings had shifted the momentum.

“Credit goes to Karim Janat for the way he batted from there. If a batter gets a start like that, it is very difficult for the bowlers to come back,” Farhan said. 

“This is T10 cricket. If one or two overs go for 15 or 20, the match goes out of your hands.”

Hosein kept Lions in the game

Despite Janat’s late assault, the Lions still had to defend their total against a Tigers side that remained in contention for much of the chase. Fakhar Zaman’s 44 kept the visitors in the hunt, but West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein delivered the decisive blow.

The Lions had used Hosein for one of his two overs during the powerplay and held the other back for the closing stages. The left-arm spinner conceded just five runs in the final over to seal the victory.

Janat said the Tigers had been in control during the bowling innings until Hosein’s return changed the contest.

“In bowling, the match was in their hands. But when Akeal came back, the whole scenario changed, and the match came to our side. It was a plan from the beginning. It is difficult for a left-hander to play a left-arm spinner,” he said.

The Lions also relied on the ground’s long boundaries and a disciplined wide-yorker strategy.

“The ground is big, so we planned that a wide yorker is no issue. The batter has to change his mind. If a batter’s mind changes in a short format, anything can happen,” Janat explained.

He added that confidence and sticking to the basics were central to defending a total in the fast-paced format.

Stick to basics

“Here a bowler is happy if he gives 10 runs in an over. As Jason Holder told us, have self-belief and stick to the basics. We kept a simple plan, and the ball went where we wanted it to go,” he said.

Farhan offered a similar assessment from the losing dressing room, pointing to Hosein’s change of pace as a key factor in the final stages.

“In T10, it is ball to ball. Akeal Hosein took the pace off, and from there it got away from us,” he said.

Farhan also explained the decision to retire Iftikhar Ahmed and send Abbas Afridi to the crease.

“Sometimes it is not your day and you are not timing the ball, so you try the next player. Unfortunately, it did not work for us today,” he said.

Beyond the result, both players highlighted the value of franchise leagues in developing cricketers and building relationships across national teams.

Janat credited the experience gained through competitions such as the T10, ILT20 and IPL for the progress Afghanistan’s players have made in recent years.

“The benefit comes from the league cricket we play, T10, ILT20, IPL, all the leagues. National players share the dugout with overseas players and you get a lot of experience from them. That is where the confidence comes from,” he said.

Farhan said the Tigers’ dressing room, which brings together Pakistani, Afghan, overseas and UAE-based players, had developed a strong sense of togetherness.

“We have Pakistani boys, Afghan boys and other boys, and a local boy we have played cricket with. We are all brothers, and we play a lot of cricket together,” he said.

Demanding schedule

The demanding schedule has also tested the squad, with the Tigers having played four matches in five days.

“We played four matches in five days, and tomorrow we have a rest,” Farhan said.

The defeat comes during a significant year for the 30-year-old opener, who led Pakistan to silver at the Asian Games in Japan before being appointed the country’s T20I captain in October.

Farhan acknowledged that the leadership role had brought a different level of responsibility.

“When you play as a player, you play for your country. When you become captain, you are responsible for all the players, and people look at you in a different way. I will keep trying to improve as a captain,” he said.

Asked about his preferred opening partner, Farhan named his United Tigers teammate Fakhar Zaman, who scored 44 in the chase.

“Fakhar Zaman. We are proud of him. When he is standing at the non-striker’s end, you do not feel so much pressure even if you play a dot ball,” he said.

Despite the setback, Farhan remained upbeat about the Tigers’ campaign, pointing to their three victories in four matches.

“We have won three out of four, so the morale of the team is high,” he said.

United Tigers will return to action on Friday against Emirates Eagles, as Yas Lions, who have won two of their three matches, face Arabian Aces.

The Abu Dhabi T10 has joined hands with global music streaming platform Spotify to bring cricket and music together during the tournament’s landmark 10th edition, introducing exclusive team playlists and live DJ performances for fans.

With the Abu Dhabi T10 2026 taking place from November 7 to 20 at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Spotify has come on board as the tournament’s Official Audio Streaming Partner. The collaboration aims to enhance the match day atmosphere and provide supporters with new ways to connect with their favourite teams through music.

The partnership features the Spotify Powerplay Zone, which will host live DJ performances at the stadium, alongside six exclusive playlists created to reflect the identity, energy and personality of each participating franchise.

Fans can explore the dedicated playlists through the official Abu Dhabi T10 Spotify page, extending the tournament experience beyond the cricket ground.

Spotify Powerplay Zone brings live music to the stadium

A major attraction of the partnership is the Spotify Powerplay Zone at Zayed Cricket Stadium, where live DJ sets will add a musical dimension to the excitement of match days.

The activation is designed to create a more vibrant stadium environment, allowing spectators to enjoy music alongside the fast-paced cricket action.

In addition to the live entertainment, Spotify has introduced six dedicated playlists, with each one representing the character and spirit of an Abu Dhabi T10 franchise.

The playlists give supporters another way to celebrate their favourite teams, whether they are watching matches from the stands or following the tournament from different parts of the world.

Abu Dhabi T10 aims to expand cricket’s entertainment appeal

Matt Boucher, CEO of tournament owner Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH) and Abu Dhabi T10, said the partnership reflects the tournament’s ambition to create an entertainment experience that extends beyond the cricket field.

He highlighted that cricket is about passion, identity and shared experiences that connect supporters across different cultures and countries.

According to Boucher, the collaboration with Spotify will help bring the distinctive personalities of the six participating teams to life through music while creating additional opportunities for supporters to engage with the competition.

He also noted that the partnership supports Abu Dhabi T10’s efforts to reach new audiences, strengthen its international appeal and position Abu Dhabi as a destination where world-class sports and entertainment come together.

Spotify to create exclusive playlists for teams

Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, Head of Marketing, MENAT+ at Spotify, said music plays an important role in how fans celebrate the sports and teams they love.

He expressed excitement about the collaboration, explaining that the six dedicated team playlists would provide supporters with their own soundtracks and another way to feel connected to the tournament.

Whether cheering from the stadium or following the matches remotely, fans can use the playlists to celebrate their favourite franchises and experience the excitement of Abu Dhabi T10 through music.

The 10th edition of Abu Dhabi T10 is being held at Zayed Cricket Stadium from November 7 to 20, 2026.

With the introduction of the Spotify Powerplay Zone and exclusive franchise playlists, Abu Dhabi T10 is looking to strengthen its position as a sporting event that offers more than on-field competition.