Debutants Ajman Titans bow out leaving behind a trail of courage

By K.R. Nayar

Abu Dhabi. Debutants Ajman Titans walked off with their heads held high, leaving behind a trail of impressive performances, unmatched grit, and unwavering character, even though they lost to UAE Bulls by 47 runs in the Eliminator of the Abu Dhabi T10 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday. For a team in its first season, their journey has been nothing short of inspirational. Their pace attack made up of promising young pacers, did stumble against the world-renowned hard-hitters Phil Salt (59), Tim David (40), and Rovman Powell (32 n.o.), but they never allowed the pressure to dull their spirit.  These global six-hitting giants produced a rain of 15 sixes to post a towering total of 162 for 3 in 10 overs — a score that would test even the most seasoned campaigners.

Shaji Ul Mulk, Founder and Chairman of T10 Global Sports,  presents the player of the match award to UAE Bulls' Philip Salt 

Starting off the tournament with two defeats, Titans went on to clinch a place among the last four.  They bowed out only after leaving behind a legacy of courage under their spirited skipper Moeen Ali and shrewd coach Mickey Arthur. Their bravery showcased the heart of a new team which is needed to come back stronger in the next edition.

Ajman Titans team owner Neeraj Hussain presents the game changer of the match award to Junaid Siddique

In Saturday’s match, despite staring at a mountain of runs, Titans responded with courage. They opened their chase with the kind of freedom and flair that showed why this team has won hearts throughout the tournament. Aneurin Donald (37) and Alex Hales (35) forged a sparkling partnership of 68 in just 5.1 overs, proving yet again that this team never walks away without a fight. They blazed away until a brilliant and tight spell of 2 for 12 from UAE pacer Junaid Siddique halted their momentum.

Ajman Titans team that won the hearts 

Salt adds salt to wounds of defeat

Salt literally added more salt to the wounds of Titans last match defeat to their team by three wickets. Titans won the toss and bravely chose to bowl, but Salt launched into them from the third delivery, hammering a six that sailed deep into the stands. He tore into every bowler — Wasim Akram, Akif Javed, and Zaman Khan — sending the ball repeatedly into the night sky. But even as the ball flew over the ropes, Titans refused to drop their shoulders. Their energy, body language, and commitment remained strong, showing a maturity rare for debutants.

Coach Mickey Arthur and skipper Moeen Ali. They inspired the team to the  last four stage 

First five overs, 76 runs

Medium pacer Zeeshan Naseer, playing the first match of the tournament, bowled the fourth over and Bulls reached the 50 run mark off his third ball.  Salt slashed his last delivery for a boundary. Titans then got their first breakthrough in the fifth over after Vince hit Akram for a six to long-off and a boundary to deep square leg, but fell to the third ball caught by Will Smeed for 21. Salt hit his sixth six to wide long-on off the fifth delivery. At the half way mark, Bulls were strongly placed at 76 for 1.

Ajman Titans after they qualified for the play-offs 

Yet another David show

 While Salt brought up a 21-ball half-century, David, who was the hero of Bulls’ Friday match win over Titans with a knock of 40, played another aggressive knock. He picked a boundary off Aspinwall’s  last ball. David also punished Zaman for two sixes, the first to deep square leg and mid-wicket. Off the last ball of that over, Salt got run out for 59 off a direct throw from Aneurin Donald. His knock off 26 balls had two boundaries and seven sixes.

Ajman Titans skipper Moeen Ali who lead from the front 

Powell’s power display

Zeeshan, who bowled the eighth over, was hit by Rovman Powell for a straight six off the third ball. He was further hit for a boundary off the next to deep backward point. The fifth ball went for a six to deep mid-wicket, and the last ball for a boundary to long on. Twenty-two runs came off that over.

The ninth over saw David hit Akif Javed for four consecutive sixes, two to long-off and the other two to backward square leg and long-on. David fell to the fifth ball, caught by Will Smeed for 40. His knock off 13 balls had one boundary and five sixes. Twenty-fours runs came off that over.  

In the last over too Powell hit Aspinwall for a straight six and the fifth ball to the third man for a boundary to register a whopping score of 162 for 3 in 10 overs

 A daunting run-rate — but Titans chase with heart

 Chasing more than 16 runs an over can break teams, but not the Titans. Alex Hales launched into James Coles straightaway with a six and two boundaries to take 15 off the first over. Donald joined him with fearless strokeplay, sending Farooqi soaring over mid-wicket and long-off. Titans were not just chasing a target — they were making a statement: we don’t back down.

 

A splendid opening stand that lit up the chase

Though Junaid Siddique’s second delivery of the fourth over was pulled for a boundary by Donald, he gave away just seven runs. Hales hit the first ball of the fifth over from James Coles for a six to backward square leg to take the score past the 50–run mark. He also hit the second and last balls of that over for sixes to long-off and took 21 runs off that over. In the sixth over, the 68–run opening partnership ended when Siddique had Hales caught by a diving David for 35. His 18-ball knock had three boundaries and three sixes. Siddique also got Rilee Rossouw caught by Coles off the next ball. Siddique once again gave away only five runs off that over.

Skipper Moeen Ali hit Sunil Narine’s first ball for a six to long-on but fell to the next ball, clean bowled, for 8. Narine gave away only 11 runs off that over. With 79 runs needed off the last 18 balls, defeat began to stare at Titans. To make matters tougher, Rohid got Donald out, caught by Farooqi for 37. His knock off 18 balls had one boundary and three sixes. Lawrence picked a boundary off Rohid’s fourth delivery, but he gave away only nine runs.

Yours sincerely with team coach Mickey Arthur, physio Manish Pardeshi, David East, CEO and Gopal Jasapara, Operations Manager... those who rooted for the team from outside the boundary  

Iftikhar Ahmed, who was introduced for the ninth over, got hit for a boundary off his first ball by Will Smeed but gave away only 11 runs off that over. Fifty-nine runs were needed off the last over. Farooqi, who bowled that over, yielded a six to Smeed to long-on but gave away only 11 runs in that over, and Titans lost by 47 runs.

Positivity in defeat

This defeat may have ended their campaign, but it has ignited something far greater — belief. Titans, debutants in a high-voltage tournament, showed skill, character, unity, and a fighting heart that lit up the Abu Dhabi T10. They lost the match but won respect. They fell short of the target but never fell short of effort. They bowed out, but never bowed down.

Their story this season is a simple but powerful reminder: Champions aren’t only the ones who lift the trophy — they are also the ones who never stop trying, learning, and rising. Ajman Titans did exactly that.