Ajman Titans conquer defending champions Deccan Gladiators for their fourth consecutive win

By K.R. Nayar

Abu Dhabi. Ajman Titans conquered three-time champions and title holders Deccan Gladiators and marched to their fourth consecutive win in the Abu Dhabi T10 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The evening glowed brighter for the Titans as this spirited triumph lifted them to the second slot on the points table, a position earned through sheer belief and blazing determination.

Shaji Ul Mulk, founder and chairman of T10 Global Sports presents the Player  of the Match award to Akif Javed 

Defending a moderate total of 109 for 6 — a score stitched together through yet another fighting knock of 31 runs from their skipper Moeen Ali and supported by the lively starts of Aneurin Donald (24) and Alex Hales (25) — the Titans turned the match into a celebration of grit. 

Ajman Titans skipper Moeen Ali with the Power Hitter of the Match award

The evening belonged to left-arm pacer Akif Javed, who produced a spell much like what legends would do, returning with magical figures of 3 for 5 in two overs. His strikes against Andre Russell, Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran — three giants who can change a match in minutes — showcased the fire and fearlessness that define this Titans squad.

The tale of Titans’ victory is one of collective rise, a team responding to every challenge with purpose and passion. Gladiators won the toss and elected to field, unaware that it would be the only moment they would win that night. Donald set the tone by slashing the second ball of the innings from Richard Gleeson to third man. A four through byes off the next ball and another boundary scooped to fine leg made it a 15-run opening over. Luke Wood followed with a disciplined second over, allowing Hales no room and conceding just two runs, but the Titans’ spirit remained undented.

Tight overs from Gladiators

 Russell’s third delivery of the third over was gracefully dispatched through the covers by Donald for a boundary. Noor Ahmed was lifted beautifully over long-on for a six, though Donald fell the very next ball, caught for 24 after an energetic 15-ball knock. Hales kept the scoreboard moving with a boundary off the last ball. Russell, tight and probing, bowled the fifth over and sent back Rilee Rossouw for 3, leaving Titans at just 39 at the halfway mark. Yet, beneath those numbers beat the heart of a team that believed.

Few would have imagined that a side restricted to only 39 runs in five overs would script such a stunning victory. But Titans, who had risen from losing their first two matches to sealing three straight wins, carried the glow of momentum and the strength of conviction.

 Joe Clarke’s run-out in the sixth over slowed things briefly, but Hales reignited the charge with a towering six off Jake Ball. A flurry followed — wides, another six, and a skidding boundary from Moeen Ali — as 21 runs lit up the over and Titans surged past 50.

 Moeen Ali shows the way again

 Wood returned for the eighth over, but Moeen — calm, regal and destructive — pulled his second delivery for a six. He followed it with another fierce hit over backward square leg and finished the over with a classy boundary to long-on, taking 19 precious runs. Hales fell early in the ninth for 25, but Moeen’s brilliant strike over mid-wicket and Lawrence’s soaring six ensured Titans punched through the 100-run mark with authority.

Noor’s final over saw drama — a wide, a massive six, two wickets, and Moeen’s blazing 31 off 12 balls. His innings, lined with two boundaries and three sixes, epitomised the Titans’ pulsating energy. Titans finished at a fighting 109 for 6.

Akif Javed’s deadly strikes

Chasing 110, Russell came out firing, smashing a boundary and a six in the first over. But then came the spell that lit up the night — Akif Javed struck with his very first ball, getting Russell caught at mid-off. His next ball yorked Stoinis, stunning the Gladiators. Pooran survived the hat-trick ball but the over yielded only two runs — a jolt that shook the opposition.

Pooran tried to revive the chase with powerful strokes, including two massive sixes off Piyush Chawla, taking Gladiators past 50. But their fire was met with the Titans’ ice-cold discipline.

Dangerous Pooran falls to Akif

Akif returned for the sixth over and immediately rattled Pooran with a short-pitched delivery that struck the helmet and ran away for four leg-byes. The very next ball, Pooran edged behind for 24, ending his dangerous stay. Laurie Evans struggled against Akif’s pace, and Chawla’s seventh over tightened the noose further, yielding just three runs while picking up two wickets — Evans run out, Wiese trapped leg-before.

Zaman and Green’s last two tight overs

 Kohler-Cadmore struck boundaries off Akram, but Zaman Khan’s ninth over was a masterclass in discipline as he allowed only five runs. With 25 needed off the last over, Chris Green rose like a seasoned general — a single off the first ball, a run-out, and the key wicket of Kohler-Cadmore for 32. His final over leaked just three runs, sealing Titans’ fourth straight win and sending the players into the dugout with their heads high and hearts thumping with pride.