ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Akeal Hosein produced a stunning hat-trick in a five-wicket haul as New York Strikers crushed Jason Holder’s Samp Army by 41 runs to storm into today’s final of the Abu Dhabi T10.
With Strikers defending 122 in the qualifier at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Hosein removed Andries Gous, Dewald Brevis, and Ibrahim Zadran – all without scoring – with successive deliveries in the opening over to complete the feat.
In his next over – the third of the innings – the West Indies left-arm spinner knocked over South African Faf du Plessis (8) and Najibullah Zadran (4) to reduce Samp Army to 13 for five – a position from which they never recovered.
Hosein finished with five wickets for six runs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz had earlier lashed a 28-ball 56 at the top of the order to help the Kieron Pollard-led Strikers to 121 for five off their ten overs. In the day’s eliminator, former West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran exploded with a remarkable 25-ball unbeaten 70 as Deccan Gladiators brushed aside Bangla Tigers by ten wickets. The left-handed Pooran blasted eight fours and five sixes while Tom Kohler-Cadmore struck a 16-ball unbeaten 43, Gladiators overhauling their target of 113 with 20 balls to spare.
Gulbadin Naib’s 52 not out off 26 balls had earlier rallied Tigers – featuring the West Indies pair of Carlos Brathwaite and Dominic Drakes – to 112 for six.
The result put Gladiators into the all-important final qualifier where they took down Samp Army by 38 runs, to reach the final against Strikers.
This time around, Pooran struck a nine-ball 26 with three fours and two sixes while West Indies counterparts Andre Fletcher (0) and Andre Russell (9) both failed in a total of 117 for five.
In reply, Samp Army could only manage 89 for six off their ten overs with Holder making just two after earlier taking a single wicket.
