The New York Strikers and Team Abu Dhabi qualified for the round of 16 at T10 Abu Dhabi with resounding victories on Thursday.
The US franchise had a seven-kick victory over the Delhi Bulls, while Abu Dhabi had an eight-kick victory over the Bangla Tigers at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
The Strikers were fueled by fantastic shooting from Kieron Pollard, who hit an unbeaten 7-ball 26, and Azam Khan, with 37 not out of 22.
This is the fifth consecutive victory for the T10 newcomers after their defeat in the opener.
The Strikers needed 19 off Dwayne Bravo’s final pass and Pollard got the job done with two deliveries down, sending his fellow West Indian for top off on the first two and next two balls towards the fence.
For the Bulls, Tom Banton had a 46-for-23 performance, with three sixes and four quads, and Tim David had a 23-for-10 performance, after losing leaders Rahmanullah Gurbaz (2) and Rilee Rossouw (0) in the first two overs against Stuart Binny and Akeal Hosein, to finish on 112 for six.
Abu Dhabi restricted the Tigers to 74 out of five after opting to play first. England spinners Adil Rashid and Fabian Allen had solid passes to come back with 2 for 8 and 2 for 10 on their 4 combined passes.
Rashid got the ball rolling when Hazratullah Zazai (17) was caught by Chris Lynn on a high rim to the point, before holding onto a catch in return to send out Emirati international Chirag Suri (7).
Allen struck between the two to dispatch Joe Clarke (14) and Iftikhar Ahmed (2) and shut the door on the Tigers.
Abu Dhabi knocked down runs three overs behind. They lost Alex Hales (6) early on but Lynn and James Vince shared a stand of 43 runs off 25 deliveries for the second wicket to help them get through.
Morrisville Samp Army kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the last four by defeating the Deccan Gladiators late in the game.
Choosing to strike first, Karim Janat struck 21 times off 11 balls, but sent one down Andre Russell’s throat for the first wicket. He was down to 27 in the third pass.
Moeen Ali (10) dropped to 63 before Johnson Charles and David Miller made it to 126 for two.
Charles led the charge with a breeze of 58. The West Indian half-back made three sixes and seven quads in his 28-ball shot. However, it was Miller who provided the fireworks with his 13-ball 35 not out.
The Gladiators in reply could only muster 107 for five with Sheldon Cottrell taking two wickets.
