The Quetta Qavalry maintained their unbeaten run in the 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 with a thrilling one-run win over the Deccan Gladiators in a top-of-the-table clash on Thursday.

Batting first, Quetta posted 112/3, powered by a rapid 39 off 14 balls from Khawaja Nafay, supported by Evin Lewis (20 off 9) and Liam Livingstone (20 off 12). Despite disciplined bowling spells from Noor Ahmad (1/9) and Jordan Thompson (0/12), the Qavalry’s late acceleration ensured a competitive total.

In reply, Deccan lost Nicholas Pooran early, but Tom Kohler-Cadmore (15 off 9) and David Wiese (32 off 15) rebuilt the innings before wickets from Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Jawadullah and Khawaja Nafay swung momentum back to Quetta.

A powerful unbeaten 39 off 19 from Marcus Stoinis kept the Gladiators in contention, but Khuzaima Tanveer’s three-run penultimate over left Deccan needing 22 from the final six balls. Stoinis cleared the ropes twice to bring the equation down, but Afridi held his nerve with the final delivery, sealing a dramatic win and extending Qavalry’s perfect start to the tournament.

Titans fall 15 runs short in chase against Aspin Stallions

In the day’s earlier fixture, the Aspin Stallions defeated the Ajman Titans by 15 runs after restricting them to 104/6 in pursuit of 120.

The Titans began aggressively through Rahmanullah Gurbaz (23 off 6), but lost momentum after his dismissal at 29/1. Akif Javed (2/11) removed Avishka Fernando (18 off 11) as the required rate climbed steadily.

The Stallions tightened control through Chris Green, who delivered an outstanding spell of 2/9, removing Leus du Plooy and Harbhajan Singh to leave the chase in disarray at 118/6. Sam Billings (13 off 9) attempted to stabilise the innings, but only six runs came from the final over, ending any chance of a late recovery.

The Stallions’ disciplined middle-overs bowling proved decisive in securing a comfortable victory.

The UAE Bulls finally lit up the Abu Dhabi T10 on Thursday night, clinching their first win of the season with a commanding five-wicket victory over the Vista Riders at Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Phil Salt and Tom Moores were unstoppable at the top, smashing the bowlers to all parts of the ground. Salt blazed a rapid 37 off just 13 balls, hammering five fours and two sixes, while Moores kept the charge going with a blazing 39 off 16, including three fours and three sixes, to wrap up the chase in just 5.3 overs.

Vista Riders’ batters never really found momentum after a slow start and finished on 75/4. Faf du Plessis (26 off 15) and Ben McDermott (17 off 11) showed a brief fight, but disciplined spells from Fazalhaq Farooqi (1/7) and UAE pacer Muhammad Rohid Khan (1/14) kept them contained throughout.

Reflecting on his performance, Rohid said: “Playing with the Bulls always feels like family, and that keeps me calm. T10 is all about fast decisions, and once you adjust, it gets easier.”

Stallions’ Fletcher blazes with 56 as Titans set steep target

In the day’s final clash, Andre Fletcher put on a show for the Aspin Stallions, smashing a 56 off 24 to set up a strong total of 120 for the Ajman Titans in the first innings. 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (23 off 6) kicked things off in style with three consecutive sixes, while Avishka Fernando (18 off 11) added support.

For the Titans, Chris Green (2/9) and Akif Javed (2/11) kept things tight with the ball, but Fletcher’s fireworks ensured a steep chase before rain interrupted the game, ending play after the first innings.

David Wiese and Marcus Stoinis put on an absolute masterclass on Wednesday night, powering the Deccan Gladiators to a dominant eight-wicket win over the Royal Champs in the ongoing Abu Dhabi T10.

Chasing 134, the pair unleashed fireworks at Zayed Cricket Stadium, smashing an unbeaten 105-run stand off just 43 balls to seal victory with 4 balls to spare. Wiese was unstoppable, blasting 59 off 21 balls with seven towering sixes, while Stoinis kept the momentum rolling with a cool 40 off 22.

Earlier, the Champs posted 133/3 thanks to a late burst from Aaron Jones, who smashed 28 off 13, and Quentin Sampson, who hammered 14 off just 3 balls, including back-to-back sixes, to finish the innings strong. Niroshan Dickwella top-scored with 33 off 17, while Nicholas Pooran’s rapid 24 off 6 gave the early innings a jolt before he was dismissed.

But the night belonged to Wiese and Stoinis, who made the chase look effortless.

Wiese said post-match: “It took a few balls to adjust to the pace, but once you’re in, it’s a really good wicket. With the breeze going one way, you can target one side of the ground. In T10, one big over can change everything.”

Quetta Qavalry cruise past Ajman Titans

Meanwhile, in the final fixture of the day, Quetta Qavalry eased past Ajman Titans by eight wickets while chasing 108. Contributions across the board kept the momentum rolling, with Liam Livingstone and Muhammad Waseem putting on a rapid 43 in 20 balls.

Khwaja Nafay carried his hot form forward, cracking two sixes and two fours as the chase wrapped up in just 7.2 overs.

The Titans struggled early at 12/3 before Moeen Ali lit up the stadium with a blistering 59 off 21 balls, including a 19-ball fifty and three huge sixes in the final over, dragging his side to a competitive 107/7.

Abbas Afridi (3/15) and Khuzaima Tanveer (2/7) led the charge with the ball in a commanding performance for the Qavalry.