~ Khawaja Nafay’s explosive knock of 45* runs in 12 balls and a disciplined bowling display scripted Qavalry’s 51-run victory in season opener at the Zayed Cricket Stadium ~
Abu Dhabi, : The 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 roared to life at the Zayed Cricket Stadium as the Quetta Qavalry announced their arrival in style, powering to a commanding 51-run win over the Northern Warriors.
In the first innings, a blockbuster knock from Khawaja Nafay (45* off 12) led the Quetta Qavalry to a formidable total of 133/5. Nafay plundered five sixes and two fours, supported by quick-fire knocks from Liam Livingstone (24 off 10) and an unbeaten Jason Holder (24* off 10). Earlier in the innings, Muhammad Waseem (15 off 10) had also looked in fine form, but the UAE batter perished at the halfway mark.
Trent Boult was the pick of the bowling attack for the Warriors, scalping the wickets of opener Evin Lewis (2) and Liam Livingstone in his two overs. Meanwhile, Tabraiz Shamsi, Odean Smith and Thisara Perera all picked up a wicket each.
In response, the Warriors could not find the start they needed. They lost opener Johnson Charles (6) to Jason Holder as early as the first over and managed only 41 runs in the first five overs. With a steep target ahead of them, it was Hazratullah Zazai (31* off 28) and Colin Munro (44 off 28) who built an unbroken stand of 77 runs in 54 balls. The pair cracked regular boundaries, but the Warriors fell far behind the equation.
While Hazratullah Zazai remained unbeaten, Munro eventually departed off the final delivery of the innings, falling to Ali Majid as the Warriors finished at 82/2. For the Qavalry, it was a comprehensive performance with the ball, with all their bowlers maintaining economy rates under 10 to shut the Warriors out of the contest.
Following the victory, Quetta Qavalry Captain Liam Livingstone said, “We got off to a great start and read the conditions well, which helped us put a strong total on the board and follow it up with an excellent bowling performance. There was plenty in the wicket, so the plan was simply to hit a good length, and the bowlers executed that perfectly.
It’s a new side and captaining in a format this quick is always a challenge, but that’s what makes T10 so enjoyable. There’s barely any time to think, but we managed the key moments well. This is one tick in the box, and hopefully we can build on this, get on a good run, and push for the Final as the tournament progresses.”
*Kohler-Cadmore leads Gladiators’ first-innings assault*
~ Gladiators ride Kohler-Cadmore’s 78 to a towering 141/2 ~
The first innings of the second match, between reigning champions Deccan Gladiators and the UAE Bulls, delivered its own share of fireworks. Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s explosive half-century (78* off 29), studded with seven sixes and six fours, powered the Gladiators to a mammoth 141/2.
After the early dismissal of skipper Nicholas Pooran (10 off 9) in the third over, Kohler-Cadmore and David Wiese ignited the innings with an electric 98-run stand off just 39 deliveries. The sixth and seventh overs alone produced 38 runs, with Kohler-Cadmore taking down Salman Irshad for three fours and a six before launching three sixes off Sunil Narine in the following over.
Meanwhile, Wiese raced to 35 off 17 balls before falling to Salman Irshad in the penultimate over, but not before the pair had already set up a daunting total for the Bulls to chase. UAE’s Junaid Siddique was the lone spark with the ball conceding only 14 runs in his two overs.
*Please note: In the second fixture, only the first-innings action was completed at the time this press release was issued*
