ABU DHABI – The UAE Bulls stormed to their maiden Abu Dhabi T10 League crown on Sunday, overwhelming the Aspin Stallions by 80 runs on a night dominated by Tim David’s extraordinary ball-striking.
While West Indies stars Rovman Powell and Sunil Narine played supporting roles, it was David’s pyrotechnics that electrified the Zayed Cricket Stadium and sealed a historic title for the franchise.
David unleashes a ruthless masterclass
Sent in to bat, the Bulls quickly discovered that David was in a mood few bowlers survive. The Australian powerhouse hammered 12 towering sixes and three fours on his way to a jaw-dropping, unbeaten 98 from only 30 deliveries, an innings that immediately placed the final beyond ordinary reach. His finishing touch came in a merciless last over that yielded 32 runs, during which Guyanese left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd was dispatched for five brutal sixes.
Predictably named Player-of-the-Match, David’s assault propelled the Bulls to an imposing 150 for one in their 10 overs, a total that shimmered with inevitability from the moment it was posted.
Powell steady, Narine restrained
Rovman Powell provided calm and continuity at the other end, crafting an unbeaten 24 from 20 balls with two fours and a six. His presence helped anchor a towering 128-run partnership with David, constructed in a mere 52 balls, that ensured the Bulls required no further contributions with the bat.
Sunil Narine, entrusted with two overs during the Stallions’ reply, delivered a tidy spell that cost just 10 runs but produced no wickets as the opposition struggled to muster any competitive momentum.
Stallions flattened in the chase
In pursuit of a towering target, the Stallions never found the rhythm required for an upset. Their innings sputtered from the outset, and despite retaining wickets, they limped to 70 for four, never once threatening to dent the Bulls’ championship surge.
Bulls captain Kieron Pollard and fellow West Indian Romario Shepherd were not called upon with bat or ball, yet their leadership and presence lent weight to a squad performance that culminated in a breakthrough title.
The night, however, belonged unmistakably to Tim David, whose breathtaking display ensured the Bulls’ first T10 crown arrived in unforgettable fashion.
