Richard Levi, left, and Misbah-ul-Haq put New York Warriors New York Warriors in the final with their batting display. Saikat Das / USM T10

New York Warriors became the first team to reach the US Masters T10 League final after defeating California Knights by eight wickets in the Qualifier 1 at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida, on Saturday.

The Knights get a second chance to make the summit clash if they win against Texas Chargers, who beat Morrisville Unity by eight wickets in the Eliminator. The Qualifier 2 and the finale will be played on Sunday along with a celebrity match preceding the trophy clash.

New York Warriors will be rested more after they restricted California to 96/4 in their 10 overs early in the day before chasing down their target in 8.4 overs. Opening batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kamran Akmal fell early in the innings as the Warriors were reduced to 28/2 in 3.3 overs. However, Misbah-ul-Haq brought the momentum towards his team’s side through a six and a boundary off Devendra Bishoo’s bowling in the sixth over.

Levi also upped the ante in the next over as he smashed Krishmar Santokie for a four and a six in the seventh over. Levi (47 not out, 24 balls) and Misbah (29, 13b) eventually took their side over the line with eight balls to spare.

Is this the shot that swung the game in favour of New York Warriors⁉️#NYWvCAK #USMastersT10 #CricketsFastestFormat #SunshineStarsSixes #T10League pic.twitter.com/0DdbRxjxtS

— US Masters T10 (@USMastersT10) August 26, 2023

California Knights won the toss and chose to bat first. Jacques Kallis and Aaron Finch got the Knights off to a flying start with a flurry of boundaries. The duo continued to find boundaries and sixes on a regular basis and took the Knights’ score to 60/1 in 5.5 overs. However, the Warriors picked up four wickets in quick succession and restricted the Knights to 96/4 in their 10 overs.

Hafeez stars for Texas

The day was good for another former Pakistan captain. Mohammad ‘Professor’ Hafeez was in sublime form with the bat as he played a blinder for Texas Chargers in defeating Morrisville Unity in the Eliminator. Texas won with nine balls remaining.

Batting first, the Morrisville Unity lost Jonathan Foo (9) early on, but had Shehan Jayasuriya and Obus Pienaar kick on. The duo scored at a quick pace and put on a 42-run stand before Jayasuriya was castled for 21, just before the midway point.

Mohammad Hafeez of Texas Chargers scored a brisk half-century. US Masters T10

Pienaar and Corey Anderson took the score to 88/2 after seven overs with a brisk display. They put on a half-century stand and eventually finished with 115/5. Pienaar reached his fifty while Anderson was out for 22.

In response, Hafeez and Mukhtar Ahmed gave Texas a flying start. Hafeez got stuck into Sreesanth’s second over and smashed two sixes and three fours, as Texas came out charging. At the halfway stage, the Chargers needed 34 more to win. Hafeez completed his fifty in the sixth over, and in the next over, the openers reached the century stand.

Right after, Hafeez was dismissed for 57 and Ahmed for 47, both by Navin Stewart, slowing down the Chargers a bit. Nonetheless, it was up to Ben Dunk after that and he smashed two sixes to wrap up the contest.

Brief scores:

Morrisville Unity 115/5 (Obus Pienaar 51, Corey Anderson 22; Thisara Perera 4/17, Imran Khan 1/17) lost by 8 wickets to Texas Chargers 119/2 (Mohammad Hafeez 57, Mukhtar Ahmed 47; Navin Ahmed 2/3)

New York Warriors 97/2 (Richard Levi 47*, Misbah-ul-Haq 29*, Devendra Bishoo 1/17) beat California Knights 96/4 (Aaron Finch 42, Jacques Kallis 29, Umaid Asif 2/18) by 8 wickets.