Texas Chargers held their nerve at crucial moments to defeat New York Warriors in the final of the US Masters T10. The Chargers won the inaugural title after a Super Over finish. Texas were cruising in response to a 93-run target but saw a dramatic collapse and had to redeem themselves through the tie-breaker.
Batting first in a thrilling contest, the New York Warriors lost opener Kamran Akmal off the first delivery, before Tillakaratne Dilshan and Richard Levi steadied the ship. The duo put on a 30-run stand for the second wicket, playing with a risk-free approach, before Levi was knocked over for 17.
Dilshan added 18 to the cause and was the next to depart, with Misbah-ul-Haq being joined by Shahid Afridi. They could not kick on as Afridi was dismissed for 1, by Ehsan Adil, who finished his spell with three wickets.
The captain could add only five in the seventh over, and Abdul Razzaq (3) departed in the eighth over, with the score at 62/6. After that, Jonathan Carter teed off for the Warriors, smashing three sixes and as many boundaries, taking the team to 92/6 in their quota of 10 overs.
In response, Texas lost the wicket of the in-form Mukhtar Ahmed for 6 in the second over. However, the very experienced Mohammad Hafeez had skipper Ben Dunk for company, and the duo dug in.
Hafeez has been in scintillating form and along with Dunk, put on a 46-run stand to set the Chargers on the way to the finish line. Dunk was dismissed for 20 but Hafeez was looking dangerous, as the Chargers reached 60/2 at the halfway stage.
Soon after, Hafeez was dismissed for 46, and Darren Stevens was gone for two, as the Chargers lost their fourth wicket. In the ninth over, Sohail Khan struck a few big blows as Upul Tharanga (1), Phil Mustard (0), Thisara Perera (4) and Neil Broom (1) were all dismissed quickly. Sohail finished with a five-wicket haul as the Warriors took control.
W. W. W. W. 🤯
Spare a thought for Sohail Khan and New York Warriors who refused to give up. 🙇♂️
In the final over, Shahid Afridi picked two wickets, as the Chargers were all out for 92, in their 10 overs, forcing the final into a tie-breaker.
In the Super Over, the Chargers batted first with Dunk and Hafeez coming out to face Sohail. The Chargers hit a couple of sixers and lost one wicket, of Hafeez, on the way to posting 15 runs. In reply, New York had Shahid Afridi and Jonathon Carter taking strike. The duo threw the kitchen sink at the Chargers, but fell just short, scoring 13 runs off the over.
A super over to bring the curtains down on a super finale 👊
Hafeez was also instrumental and consistent for Texas in the play-offs, including the Qualifer 2 when the Chargers knocked out California Knights by seven wickets and seven balls to spare.
Chasing a target of 140 in a high-scoring affair that saw a combined 23 sixes being hit, Hafeez and Mukhtar struck 20, 22 and 22 runs in Overs 2 to 4 to seal victory convincingly. Texas were leading the table in the league stage at one point but were the fourth and last to enter the play-offs. Yet, they steamrolled their way to the title.
A celebrity T10 match was organised before the final. Bollywood stars such as Suniel Shetty and Sohail Khan took part in the match along with chairman of T-Ten Global Sports, Shaji Ul Mulk, and Ritesh Patel, CEO of SAMP Group, the league’s organising partner.
Brief scores:
New York Warriors 92/6 (Jonathan Carter 39*, T Dilshan 18; Ehsan Adil 3/11; Imran Khan 1/15) tied with Texas Chargers 92 (Mohammad Hafeez 46, Ben Dunk 20; Sohail Khan 5/15, Umaid Asif 2/14)
For decades, the blue of Italy has been synonymous with soccer. But as the once-mighty Azzurri football team teeters on the brink of missing a third successive FIFA World Cup, it is another, far less storied national side that is offering the country a shot at global glory.
Italy’s cricketers are now within touching distance of a historic first appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, following a 12-run victory over Scotland on Wednesday in the European regional qualifiers.
The win, achieved in Voorburg, propels Italy to the summit of the standings with one crucial fixture remaining. Victory over the Netherlands on Friday would see them qualify automatically for the 2026 tournament. Even a narrow loss may suffice, should Jersey and Scotland fail to produce the kind of crushing wins required to overhaul Italy’s superior net run rate (1.722, compared to Jersey’s 0.430 and Scotland’s -0.150).
At the centre of this unlikely charge is Joe Burns, the former Australian Test opener who has found new purpose, and a new passport, in leading the Italian side. “It’s a very surreal feeling,” said Burns, whose 23 Tests for Australia included Ashes appearances.
“To come and beat Scotland, who are an exceptional team, is a wonderful reward for the sacrifices made by our players, our staff and the federation.
“This is hopefully the beginning of something special for Italian cricket. The group is very emotional right now, we know what’s at stake.”
With their final fixture scheduled after Scotland and Jersey conclude their clash earlier on Friday, Italy will take the field knowing precisely what is required.
Scotland, long considered Europe’s most capable challengers outside England, were left to rue a stuttering display with both bat and ball. Captain Richie Berrington admitted his side had been outmanoeuvred. “We stayed in the fight but couldn’t quite execute at the end,” he said.
“Full credit to Italy, they out-skilled us with the ball in those conditions.
All eyes will now turn to Voorburg, where Italy’s date with destiny awaits, and history is within their reach.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is set to make a thrilling return to the UAE capital on Saturday, July 26, with a blockbuster middleweight clash headlining the action at Etihad Arena.
Top-ranked contender and fan favourite Robert Whittaker, currently No.5 in the middleweight division, will square off against rising star Reinier de Ridder in what promises to be an electrifying battle.
In a poetic twist, Whittaker returns to Abu Dhabi exactly five years after his victory at the final Fight Island event on July 26, 2020. That win over Darren Till, played out in a silent, pandemic-era arena, became a defining chapter in Whittaker’s storied career. This time, the stage is set for redemption and roar, as he steps back into the Octagon in front of a packed house.
Will the former champion recreate history, or will de Ridder seize his moment on the big stage?
Also on the fight card is a high-intensity light heavyweight bout featuring Türkiye’s Ibo Aslan taking on the USA’s Billy Elekana, a showdown guaranteed to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its global reputation as a world-class destination for combat sports, and this event is shaping up to be another unmissable chapter in the UFC legacy.
Cricket fans in the UAE are in for another blockbuster season as the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) returns for its fourth edition, kicking off on Tuesday, December 2, coinciding with UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad). The month-long, six-team tournament will conclude on Sunday, January 4, 2026, promising 34 high-octane matches featuring some of the world’s most exciting T20 players.
Big Names Back for Season 4
The first phase of squad selection is complete, and it features a stellar cast of returning favourites and headline-making new signings. Among the top international stars confirmed for Season 4 are:
England’s T20 World Cup winners: Alex Hales, Sam Curran (Season 3 MVP – Red Belt Winner), Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, and Chris Woakes
West Indies heavy-hitters: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Shai Hope (Season 3 Best Batter – Green Belt Winner)
Asia’s top talent: Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi (Season 3 Best Bowler – White Belt Winner), and Sikandar Raza (Season 2 MVP – Red Belt Winner)
Australia and New Zealand powerhouses: Tim David, Tim Southee, and Lockie Ferguson
Player Auction Coming Soon
Each team has completed eight-player rosters in this initial phase, which included retentions from Season 3 and new signings. The final squads will be completed during the upcoming DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, with dates and details to be announced shortly.
Key Retentions – Season 3 Heroes Stay Put
Teams have locked in key players from the previous edition:
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Andre Russell, Phil Salt, Charith Asalanka, Sunil Narine
Desert Vipers: Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lockie Ferguson, Dan Lawrence
Gulf Giants: James Vince, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus
MI Emirates: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Muhammad Waseem
Sharjah Warriorz: Tim Southee, Johnson Charles, Kusal Mendis
New Signings Heat Up the Transfer Window
Several big-name players have changed franchises or made their ILT20 debut:
Dubai Capitals: Added Afghan spinner Waqar Salamkheil, pacers Luke Wood and Muhammad Jawadullah
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Signed explosive batters Alex Hales, Liam Livingstone, and Sherfane Rutherford
Desert Vipers: Welcomed opener Andries Gous
Gulf Giants: Secured Moeen Ali, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz
MI Emirates: Added Chris Woakes and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis
Sharjah Warriorz: Signed Sikandar Raza, Maheesh Theekshana, Tim David, and USA quick Saurabh Netravalkar
Mark Your Calendar
The tournament opens on UAE National Day, setting the tone for a festive month of cricketing fireworks across UAE stadiums. With star-studded squads, huge fanbases, and intense franchise rivalries, DP World ILT20 Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest edition yet.