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Tense Abu Dhabi T10 thriller: Vista Riders edge victory as Royal Champs’ Moeen Ali blazes with 19-ball 50

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The Abu Dhabi T10 2025 action kept fans hooked on Wednesday as the Vista Riders defended a modest 109 to clinch a nine-run win over the Royal Champs at Zayed Cricket Stadium. 

Despite early damage from Haider Razzaq, who ripped through the top order, Vista recovered thanks to sharp cameos from Ben McDermott (31 off 16) and Dwaine Pretorius (31 off 12). Their quick runs proved priceless in what turned into a tense, low-scoring battle.

The Royal Champs looked well on track during a fiery 50-run stand between Jason Roy and Brandon McMullen, racing to 67/3 by the halfway stage. But the script flipped quickly. 

Sharafuddin Ashraf and Andrew Tye dismantled the middle order with three wickets each, leaving the Champs scrambling. With 17 needed off the final over, Ashraf kept his cool, allowing only seven and sealing a composed, hard-earned victory for the Riders.

Earlier, the Ajman Titans rode a breathtaking Moeen Ali counterattack to post 107/7 after crashing to 12/3. Ali smashed 59 off just 21 balls, including a blistering 19-ball 50 and three straight sixes in the last over, to drag the Titans back into the contest almost single-handedly. His fearless knock turned a collapse into a competitive total before play stopped after the first innings.

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

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Big Ticket joins DP World ILT20 Season 4 as official partner, raffle draw postponed to next Sharjah match

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Big Ticket, the Middle East’s largest and longest-running guaranteed raffle draw, has joined DP World International League T20 Season 4 as an Official Partner, bringing fans closer to dreams of luxury cars, gold, and cash prizes.

The 34-match T20 extravaganza, featuring six teams and some of the world’s top cricket stars, is underway across Dubai International Stadium, Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi), and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, concluding with the final on January 4, 2026. 

Tickets start at Dh20, with hospitality packages from Dh325 and the Sixes Lounge experience available at Dh395. Bookings can be done via Virgin Megastore.

DP World ILT20 Head of Partnerships Ishan Chopra said, “We are thrilled to welcome a UAE-born brand like Big Ticket to Season 4. Their legacy of turning dreams into reality aligns perfectly with our vision of fan-first experiences both on and off the field. Together, we aim to elevate excitement and engagement for all cricket fans.”

Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals shifted to Dubai

Due to rain forecasts in Sharjah, the Friday, December 19 match between Sharjah Warriorz and Dubai Capitals has been relocated to Dubai International Stadium, starting at 6:30pm. Ticket holders, however, will remain eligible for the raffle draw, which will now take place during the next Sharjah match on December 21 between the Gulf Giants and Dubai Capitals.

About Big Ticket:

  • Launched in 1992 at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
  • Offers cash prizes and dream luxury cars, with grand prizes now up to Dh35 million.
  • Tickets for the Big Ticket Millionaire cost Dh500 (buy two, get one free), and Dream Car tickets cost Dh150 (buy two, get one free).
  • Instagram: @bigticketauh | Facebook: Big Ticket Abu Dhabi

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DPWorldILT20: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders seal second straight win with four-wicket victory over Gulf Giants

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Abu Dhabi Knight Riders continued their upward momentum in DP World ILT20 Season 4 with a composed four-wicket win over Gulf Giants at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday, climbing from sixth to fourth on the points table.

Chasing 166, Knight Riders were powered by a fluent opening stand between Alex Hales (46 off 39) and Phil Salt (35 off 24), who added 61 runs in 44 balls to lay a solid platform. The chase was then finished calmly by Sherfane Rutherford (30 off 22) and Andre Russell (21 not out off 13), despite a late fightback from Tabraiz Shamsi, who claimed 3 for 23.

Earlier, leg-spinner Piyush Chawla delivered a match-winning spell of 4 for 27 to restrict the Giants to 165 for 7, neutralising Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s commanding 72 off 45 balls.

Salt set the tone early with aggressive strokeplay in the powerplay, including a 17-run over off Fred Klaassen that also took him past 8,000 T20 runs. Although Shamsi struck twice to briefly stall the chase, removing Salt and Liam Livingstone, Hales held firm through the middle overs.

Rutherford shifted momentum decisively with a flurry of boundaries off Moeen Ali, before Russell absorbed pressure late on. Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, the West Indian all-rounder sealed the chase with a towering six in the final over, finishing the match with four balls to spare.

Gulf Giants had earlier threatened a much bigger total after Gurbaz dominated the innings. The Afghan opener shared useful stands with Pathum Nissanka and James Vince before bringing up his half-century off just 32 balls. However, Chawla triggered a collapse in the middle and death overs, removing key batters and ensuring the Giants lost momentum sharply after reaching 132 for 4.

Player of the Match Chawla said his continued success came from “experimenting with angles and flight” to keep batters guessing, while Giants captain James Vince admitted his side fell “20 to 30 runs short” after a promising start.






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DP World T20: MI Emirates defend modest total to beat Dubai Capitals by 7 runs

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MI Emirates produced a remarkable late turnaround to beat the Dubai Capitals by seven runs at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday, successfully defending a modest total of 137 in the DP World ILT20.

Jonny Bairstow’s fluent half-century laid the foundation, but it was a collective bowling effort,  led by Rashid Khan, that turned the match on its head after the Capitals appeared firmly in control of the chase.

Chasing 138, the Capitals made a confident start despite losing Leus du Plooy early. Shayan Jahangir and Jordan Cox kept the scoreboard moving, racing to 51 inside the powerplay and putting the Capitals well ahead of the required rate.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically once Rashid Khan entered the attack. Jahangir was outfoxed soon after the powerplay, triggering a collapse that saw the Capitals lose wickets at regular intervals. Rashid removed Rovman Powell before Kamindu Mendis cleaned up captain Dasun Shanaka, reducing the Capitals to 94 for four in the 14th over.

With the asking rate climbing, pressure mounted on Cox, who had anchored the innings. His dismissal in the 18th over — followed swiftly by Mohammad Nabi — proved decisive as Naveen-ul-Haq and Romario Shepherd closed out the innings. The Capitals were eventually bowled out for 130.

Earlier, MI Emirates were kept quiet in the powerplay by disciplined new-ball bowling from the Capitals. Bairstow broke free after the seventh over, launching a counterattack that included a 30-ball half-century, highlighted by eight fours and three sixes.

Muhammad Jawadullah struck twice in quick succession to remove Bairstow and Nicholas Pooran, while Mustafizur Rahman ripped through the middle and lower order. An unbeaten cameo from Romario Shepherd helped MI Emirates reach 137 for eight.

Rashid Khan, named Player of the Match for his two-wicket spell, praised the team effort. “Today was a proper team performance, especially with the ball and in the field,” he said.

The win takes MI Emirates to six points and lifts them into third place on the Season 4 points table, replacing the Dubai Capitals.

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