Wasim Akram’s fire and Rilee Rossouw’s flair lift Ajman Titans to commanding victory

By K.R. Nayar

Abu Dhabi.  Ajman Titans, riding high on UAE’s left-arm pacer Wasim Akram’s fiery spell and Rilee Rossouw’s breezy 37, backed by the ever-consistent skipper Moeen Ali’s unbeaten and classy 29, recorded a royal seven-wicket triumph over Royal Champs for their second consecutive win in the Abu Dhabi T10 at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Playing the opening match of the day under the blazing sun, the Titans sparkled in every department of the game, restricting Royal Champs to 109 for 5 before storming home with authority in just 8.2 overs. The victory was a huge surge of self-belief for a side that had been languishing at the bottom of the table, suddenly propelling them to seventh and then soaring up to third after the win – a massive leap of momentum and spirit.

Wasim Akram, the pride of UAE and a precision-driven left-arm pacer, bowled with fire and finesse, conceding only seven runs in his two overs while taking two key wickets. He was perfectly complemented by Chris Green, who delivered two crucial wickets for 20 runs after Titans won the toss and confidently elected to bowl. 

 

Wasim Akram receives the Player of the Match award from Danube's Anis Sajan

Akram struck early, trapping Aaron Jones leg-before with the second ball of the match, sending a statement of intent as he gave away only five runs in that over. Akif Javed handled the second over but was greeted by power as Jason Roy pulled him for a six off his fifth ball. Zaman Khan, the hat-trick hero of their previous game, was also targeted, Roy hitting him for a boundary through deep extra cover and then again to third man. Brandon McMullen added another boundary, taking 18 runs off that over.

Gopal Jasapara, Operations Manager of Ajman Titans translates Wasim Akram's comments at the prize distribution funciton.

Green, one of Titans’ most reliable performers, bowled the fourth over. McMullen carved him for a boundary to third man, yet the batters could muster only eight runs from the over. Piyush Chawla arrived for the fifth, using all his experience to stifle the scoring and allow just five runs. At the halfway stage, Champs had managed only 47 runs, feeling the clamp tightening from Titans’ intelligent bowling. 

 

David East, CEO of Ajman Titans presents Game Changer of the match award to Aneurin Donald 

Akif Javed returned for the sixth, and though Roy hit him for a boundary to long-on and then a six to backward square leg off successive deliveries, Champs still struggled to break the shackles.

Chawla’s first delivery of the seventh was crunched by Roy through deep extra cover for four. McMullen then hammered a six to deep mid-wicket and a boundary over extra cover, but Chawla had the last laugh. Off the final ball, Roy departed for a blazing 42 off 25 balls, caught at long-on by Green after an innings studded with four boundaries and two sixes.

Skipper Moeen Ali speaks at the prize distribution function 

Akram returned for the eighth with venom and discipline. Quentin Sampson was beaten thrice in a row before pulling one into the hands of Will Smeed at deep square leg for 2. Akram conceded only three runs in that over, turning the heat back on the batting side.

Zaman Khan returned for the ninth, giving away just 12 runs. Champs finally reached the 100-run mark in 9.2 overs when Chris Jordan, joining McMullen, slammed Green for a boundary and then a six to deep mid-wicket. His aggressive attempt to repeat the shot immediately brought his downfall, as Dan Lawrence caught him for 13. 

 

Green then removed McMullen off the final ball of the innings, caught by Akram at long-off for a well-fought 43 off 26 balls with four boundaries and a six. Champs were restricted to 109 for 5 in their 10 overs, a result of Titans’ relentless, disciplined and smart bowling.

Chasing a very gettable target of just over 10 an over, Titans opener Aneurin Donald gave the innings a rocket launch. He smashed Daniel Sams’ first ball to deep backward point for four, followed by a massive six to deep mid-wicket. He then lifted Sams straight for another towering six before falling to a stunning one-handed running catch by Isuru Udana at long-on off the fifth ball. Donald’s electrifying 16 off just five balls, including one boundary and two sixes, set the perfect tone.

Rossouw joined Alex Hales, and though Rishi Dhawan bowled four tight deliveries, Hales broke free with a straight boundary off the fifth and another to deep backward point. Haider Razzaq suffered next, with Hales launching a six to long-on and Rossouw powering one to deep mid-wicket. Rossouw then cracked Udana’s first ball through the covers for another stylish boundary.

Titans thundered past the 50 mark in 3.4 overs when Hales stylishly hammered Udana through the covers for yet another boundary. Hales continued his assault with two more boundaries—one to sweeper cover and another to backward square leg—making it 14 valuable runs from the over. However, Hales fell to the very next over, caught by Roy at the first delivery from Chris Jordan for 21 off only 10 balls – an innings sparkling with three fours and a six. 

 

Rossouw continued the charge, scooping Jordan for a boundary to third man as Titans reached the halfway stage needing just 47 more to win. Shakib Al Hassan was greeted in style, Rossouw welcoming him with a boundary to third man before launching his last delivery straight over the sightscreen for a classy six.

Rossouw fell in the seventh over, pulling Dhawan into the hands of Sams at deep mid-wicket for an excellent 37 off 20 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. Moeen Ali walked in with calm authority and the scoreboard requiring 32 from 21 balls.

Ajman Titans in the third slot in the table after the win 

Will Smeed ended Dhawan’s over by drilling a boundary through the covers, and Moeen then got into his elegant stroke-play mode, steering Jordan to deep backward point for four. Titans crossed the 100 mark with another classic boundary from Moeen to the same region at 7.5 overs. He added yet another off Jordan, bringing the equation down to just eight needed from 12.

The end came in grand style. Moeen Ali sent Sams soaring for a huge six over deep square leg and then finished the job with a smooth boundary to backward square leg, sealing a brilliant win in just 8.2 overs – a finish that reflected confidence, class and total.