"VAN" (Sports Desk - 21.11.2025) :: An explosive innings from Phil Salt (37 off 13) and Tom Moores (39* off 16) ensured the UAE Bulls blew past the Vista Riders with five wickets to spare at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in the ongoing 2025 Abu Dhabi T10. The victory marked the UAE Bulls’ first victory of the campaign.
Chasing a modest total of 76, Tom Moores opened fire in the first over with 15 runs against Dwaine Pretorious while Phil Salt took down Andrew Tye for 21 runs soon after to blunt the contest.
Salt eventually fell to Tye in the fourth over but only after he had launched a total of five fours and two sixes. Moores was just as lethal, remaining unbeaten with three fours and three sixes to steer the Bulls home in 5.3 overs
Up against a clinical bowling performance, the Vista Riders had a slow start in the first innings, finding only six runs in the first two overs. After Murali Vijay retired hurt, Captain Faf Du Plessis (26 off 15) and Ben McDermott (17 off 11) broke the shackles with a series of boundaries, but both batters departed in consecutive overs to bring the scoreline to 52/2 in 6.3 overs. Sean Dickson (12 off 9) was the only other batter to cross the double figure mark as the Vista Riders limped to 75/4.
Fazalhaq Farooqi (1/7) and Muhammad Rohid Khan (1/14) tightened the screws with disciplined two-over spells, conceding little and taking a wicket apiece. Junaid Siddique (1/17) and Sunil Narine (1/17) chipped in with a wicket each as well, ensuring the Riders never found momentum.
Reflecting on his performance, Rohid said, “I’ve been playing continuously and felt no issues today. Once I’m back with the Bulls, it always feels like family and that helps me stay calm. T10 is a different format where you must make decisions quickly, but once you adjust and try different balls, it actually becomes easier.”
Fletcher's fireworks set strong target for the Ajman Titans
The third fixture of the day saw Aspin Stallions set up a challenging target of 120 for the Ajman Titans. Rahamnullah Gurbaz (23 off 6) smashed three sixes in the first three balls of the match to ignite the innings.
While Akif Javed accounted for Gurbaz in the second over, Andre Fletcher (56 off 24) attacked relentlessly. The opener notched a 20-ball half century, comprising two fours and six sixes. Fletcher was supported by Avishka Fernando (18 off 11) as the pair constructed a 53-run stand in 22 balls.
After both batters departed, Sam Billings (13* off 9) looked to provide the finishing touch, but a shrewd last over from Chris Green only conceded five runs and saw the wicket of Harbhajan Singh (2 off 3). Green and Akif Javed were the pick of the Titans bowling attack with figures of 2/9 and 2/11 respectively.
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