Morrisville Samp Army vs UP Nawabs Match 8 Match Commentary: Abu Dhabi T10 League, 2024

4.56pm  That's all we have from this one but don't go anywhere because the next match is right on our heels, where Bangla Tigers take on the New York Strikers. The first ball should be bowled at 3.30 pm local (1130 GMT) but our buildup has already begun. Do hop in to that matchcentre!

4.56pm  Victorious Morrisville Samp Army's skipper, ROHAN MUSTAFA, has a big smile on his face. Calls it a great performance from his team's bowlers, candidly admitting that at one stage, he himself thought that the game was done. But praises the young Hotak for doing really well in the last over, adding that the wind aided them pretty well in this game.

4.55pm  Morrisville Samp Army​​​'s AMIR HAMZA HOTAK HAS BEEN ADJUDGED AS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant spell of 2-0-9-2.

4.52pm  ... THE PRESENTATION ...

4.51pm  Earlier in the game, UP Nawabs bowled really well to curtail Morrisville Samp Army to exactly 100/7. It seemed under par at that stage and this is definitely an opportunity missed by the Nawabs, after controlling the run chase for 8 overs. After 8 overs, they were 83/1 while Morrisville were 82/5. The latter scored 18 in their last 2 overs while UP managed just 14/2. Tough pill to swallow. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

4.49pm  The spinners were triumphant for Morrisville but it was overall a good effort. Isuru Udana and Karim Janat were expensive but the others bowled well. Especially the captain, Rohan Mustafa, who took on the responsibility of bowling the 9th over and conceded just 7. Brilliant.

4.48pm  Factor this. Gurbaz was on 56 (29) at the end of the 8th over. UP needed 18 in the last 2 overs. And Gurbaz faced just 3 balls in those 12. And just one in the last over. No excuses for mucking up a run chase but that's what happens when the ball is spinning and a new batter arrives at the crease. Always difficult to start scoring from the word go and Mustafa used his bowlers brilliantly.

4.46pm  Hard to explain a scorecard which sees only 3 wickets fall, an opening batter batting right through till the end, making 60, an opening partnerhip of 61 in 34 balls, but still failing to cross 100. That's T10 cricket for you. You just never know when can a game turn. UP were looking full throttle when the openers were going great guns but once Malan fell, the Samp Army pounced in. They starved Gurbaz off strike and focussed on the other batters.

4.44pm  Wow. The spin army of Morrisville Samp has done it for them. 4 spinners used, with combined figures of 6-0-40-2. That's the game right there. Just squeezed out the Nawabs who were within a shot of getting their first kebab this season.

4.38pm  Odean Smith walks in at number 5, replacing Andre Fletcher. He can tonk a few as well.