Ajman Titans in hunt for first win following strong individual brilliance

By K.R. Nayar 

Chris Green and Akif Javed fought with fire in their eyes, and Alex Hales’ blistering 31 lit up the chase, but even their heroic efforts could not halt the blazing charge of Aspin Stallions, who galloped past Ajman Titans by 15 runs in a spirited Abu Dhabi T10 clash at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.

Andre Fletcher unleashed a cyclone, smashing a breathtaking 56 off just 24 balls with six towering sixes to win the Player of the Match. But the real spark that changed the game belonged to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who erupted with 23 runs off only six balls and crowned his impact with three sharp catches, proving to be the lethal difference in the contest.

Alex Hales... top scorer 

Titans’ Green was sensational, delivering a spell of precision and control with two wickets for nine runs in two overs. Akif backed him with equal intensity, striking twice for 11 runs from his quota. Their combined effort slowed the Stallions, who were roaring at 82 for 1 in just 5.4 overs. Alex Hales, with a crisp 31 off 16 balls featuring four cracking boundaries and a six, tried to steer the Titans home, but Zohair Iqbal’s golden spell of 3 for 16 sealed the Stallions’ triumph.

Now wounded from back-to-back defeats to Quetta Qavalry and Stallions, the Titans will walk into Friday’s battle against Northern Warriors determined to turn their story around.

Tale of the match

Ajman Titans won the toss and elected to bowl, but the opening over became a fireworks show. Gurbaz came roaring out of the gates, smashing Jason Behrendorff for three consecutive sixes – first over deep mid-wicket, then over deep square leg, and once again over deep mid-wicket. He finished the over with a boundary, getting 24 runs off the very first over of the match. Fletcher then joined the party with his first boundary off Akif Javed in the next over. But Gurbaz’s attack ended when Akif struck the decisive blow, with Chris Green completing a smart catch at 23.

Wasim Akram, trusted with the third over, was punished as Fletcher launched him for two booming sixes to backward square leg and deep mid-wicket. Fifty runs were on the board in just three overs. Piyush Chawla entered the attack, but Fletcher greeted him with another majestic strike to deep mid-wicket. Haider Ali was welcomed with consecutive boundaries from Avishka Fernando through the covers and deep mid-wicket. At the halfway mark, Stallions were cruising at 76 for 1.

Akif Javed... accurate pace 

Akif then struck once again, removing Avishka for 18 with Will Smeed taking a comfortable catch. Chawla’s next over began with yet another six from Fletcher, who soon reached his half-century in just 20 balls. Chawla finished the over on a high, rattling the stumps of Leus du Plooy for 1.

Stallions crossed the 100 mark in 7.3 overs before Green ended Fletcher’s spectacular innings, Behrendorff taking the catch. Fletcher’s 24-ball 56, decorated with two fours and six breathtaking sixes, was a knock to remember. Behrendorff returned in the ninth over, but Sam Billings launched him over fine leg for six. However, Behrendorff soon dismissed Ben Cutting, perfectly caught on the rope by Green.

Harbhajan Singh walked in with hope, but in the last over Green removed him as well, Dan Lawrence doing the rest near the boundary. Green finished another outstanding over, giving away only five. Stallions posted 119 for 6 in their 10 overs – a score packed with punches, power and relentless hitting.

The Titans’ chase

Titans needed twelve an over and immediately survived a scare when Hales escaped a nick behind off Ali Khan in only the second ball he faced. Having survived, he switched gears, smashing boundaries to mid-wicket and long-on. At the other end Aneurin Donald lit up the second over bowled by Tymal Mills with back-to-back sixes – first to deep mid-wicket and then over deep square leg. Twenty-nine thrilling runs were plundered from the first two overs, breathing life into the Titans’ pursuit.

But the party was cut short when Cutting sprinted in to hold a sharp running catch at long-off off Zohair Iqbal, ending Donald’s innings on 14. Will Smeed then struck Zohair but straight into the hands of Ali Khan at point. Rilee Rossouw then announced his arrival with a crisp boundary through sweeper cover. Akhilesh Reddy came on next, and Rossouw greeted him with a boundary to deep mid-wicket. Hales too pierced the field with a boundary to backward square leg.

Hafeez Ur Rehman broke the stand when Rossouw was caught by Harbhajan for 13, but Dan Lawrence counter-punched immediately with a six to long-on, taking Titans to 58 for 3 at halfway.

With 63 required from the last five overs, Akhilesh struck again, bowling Lawrence as he attempted a cheeky scoop for 11. Moeen Ali joined Hales and unleashed a stylish cover drive for four, after which Hales sent a massive six sailing into the long-on stands. But the final ball of the over brought heartbreak as Hales departed for 31, Cutting once again making no mistake at long-off.

Titans now needed 43 off 18 balls. Green joined Moeen but flicked Mills into the hands of Gurbaz for just 1. Chawla began positively with a boundary off the first ball he faced, but 34 were still required from the last two overs. Then came the decisive moment – Moeen fell for 13, caught by Gurbaz at wide long-on off Ali Khan, and with him the Titans’ hopes dimmed dramatically.

Needing 25 off the last six balls, Zohair Iqbal came on to bowl the final over. Chawla slashed him to third man for a boundary but was dismissed on the third ball, once again caught by Gurbaz. With too much to do and not enough time, Titans finished at 104 for 8, falling short by 15 runs in a spirited finish.