Foxes trio progress to Abu Dhabi T10 knockout stages

In an eventful weekend of action, three different teams reached top spot in the Abu Dhabi T10 standings throughout the course of the three days. However, it is Deccan Gladiators who currently hold pole position moving into the upcoming week of matches before the knockout stages commence starting Friday, December 3, 2021.

It is now a four-horse race to become season five Abu Dhabi title winners as Naveen’s Team Abu Dhabi, Gurbaz’ Delhi Bulls and Nixon’s Bangla Tigers join the Deccan Gladiators qualifying for the knockout stages.

Team Abu Dhabi began the weekend holding onto first place within the competition, however, suffering losses to Bangla Tigers by 10 runs and Northern Warriors by 10 wickets left Team Abu Dhabi vulnerable and were replaced by Deccan Gladiators in top spot.

Individually, Foxes' overseas paceman Naveen took the wicket of one of Bangla Tigers' leading run scorers; Will Jacks, and Chennai Braves' captain Angelo Perera who was dismissed for a golden duck. Naveen will look to move up the gears as Team Abu Dhabi aim to reclaim their position at top of the standings.

Delhi Bulls currently sit in fourth place in the standings after a loss to league leaders Deccan Gladiators and a win over Bangla Tigers. However, with only two points between the top four teams, the rankings are all up for grabs.

After Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s sensational match-winning innings, stealing the show with the bat scoring 70 runs in 32 balls against Northern Warriors, the wicketkeeper-batter had a quieter weekend scoring a total of 20 runs in two games. The big hitting opening batter remains Delhi Bulls' top run scorer with a total of 184 runs so far in the competition and is set to continue his immense form into the knockout stages later this week.

Roman Walker’s Chennai Braves have had an difficult start to life in their inaugural t10 campaign, and are yet to get off the mark in the eight games played.

Despite this, right-arm fast bowler Walker has increased his ‘Moment of the Match’ tally to two as he claimed the moment of the match in the Braves' outing against Bangla Tigers, where he dismissed Johnson Charles for 30 runs.

The Chennai Braves have not qualified for the knockout stages of the competition, any future matches Walker is due to feature in in the fifth Abu Dhabi T10 campaign will serve as important preseason preparations as he looks ahead to return to the Uptonsteel County Ground.

Conversely, Paul Nixon’s Bangla Tigers make up the third of three teams with connections to the Running Foxes to have qualified for the knockout stages of the competition following wins against Team Abu Dhabi and Chennai Braves this weekend.

Batting coach Paul Nixon’s side particularly played well in their outing against the Chennai Braves where the openers put on a partnership of 82. Nixon’s batting side will be hopeful of continuing their form as they look ahead to the final two games before the knockout stages commence.