Deccan Gladiators vs Morrisville Samp Army Final Match Commentary: Abu Dhabi T10 League, 2024

11.27pm  Richard Gleeson has been awarded the PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD for his fine bowling effort.

11.25pm  The presentation ceremony...

10.58pm  Aryan Lakra chimes in and says that it is hard to believe that he is there with a team filled with so many big names. Adds that there will be some celebrations but a lot of the guys will fly home before the night ends. Mentions that yet again the tournament has shown why it is one of the best in the world.

10.57pm  Luke Wood says it's been a great journey and despite not playing he has thoroughly enjoyed the tournament. Adds that their team have a lineup of stars and he got to learn so much from them which makes it okay to sit out. Talks about his role in the team and says that he was asked to bowl the first and third over and try and get breakthroughs up front in the games he played.

10.55pm  Marcus Stoinis aka 'The Hulk,' is now in for a chat as well. He says hats off to the franchise for putting together such a fantastic group of not just players but the coaching staff as well. Reckons it has been a dream run for them and when they have been challenged, they have responded to it. Mentions that the tournament is a wonderful one to play in and the level of the game is pretty amazing too.

10.55pm  Anrich Nortje is the first one down for a chat. He says it's a great feeling to win the title and the way the batting lineup has fired has been exceptional. Adds that it has been a great opportunity and he likes the competition which keeps the players on their toes throughout the course of the game.

10.54pm  Let's now hear from some of the players of the winning team Deccan Gladiators...

10.51pm  Earlier in the day, Morrisville Samp Army faltered with the bat, managing a below-par total of 104 runs. Despite a promising start from Faf du Plessis and Charith Asalanka, the team lost steam after their departures around the eighth over. In a final against the dominant Gladiators, the lack of a solid finish proved costly. The Gladiators’ bowlers rose to the occasion, led by the ever-reliable Richard Gleeson, who picked up two crucial wickets. Each of the other bowlers chipped in with a wicket, making it a collective effort. The fielding was just as sharp, with a highlight being Jos Buttler’s spectacular diving catch to dismiss Faf du Plessis, a moment that underlined the Gladiators' hunger to dominate.

10.50pm  The Samp Army skipper Rohan Mustafa took a bold decision to bowl the first over himself, but it backfired as he was smashed for four boundaries. That initial blow set the tone for the Gladiators’ chase, and the Samp Army bowlers never managed to recover. With this victory, the Deccan Gladiators reaffirm their dominance in the T10 format, proving why they are the team to beat. Their incredible performance in the league stages carried seamlessly into the playoffs and culminated in this dazzling finale.

10.49pm  The Gladiators’ chase was nothing short of breathtaking. Tom Kohler-Cadmore set the tone with an electric knock, and Nicholas Pooran added his signature flair, hammering three sixes in the opening three overs to leave the Samp Army shell-shocked. Reaching the team’s first fifty in just 2.4 overs, the Gladiators were relentless. Pooran’s dismissal didn’t slow them down as TKC took charge, smashing three massive sixes in Qais Ahmed’s over to notch a blistering Fifty off just 17 balls, ensuring the game was over before it could truly begin.

10.49pm  What a finale to remember! Deccan Gladiators have etched their name in the history books, clinching their third Abu Dhabi T10 League title in just five outings of the finale with an emphatic victory over Morrisville Samp Army. It was a masterclass in all three departments, as the Gladiators made a challenging final look like a one-sided affair, chasing down 105 runs in just under 7 overs to seal their legacy.