TAD VS CBJ MATCH 23

We are done with the coverage for this game but are not done for the evening yet! Match 24 between UP Nawabs and New York Strikers is about to get underway. The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 8 pm local (1600 GMT), but our buildup has already begun. Hop in to that matchcentre for all the action!

Victorious captain of Team Abu Dhabi, PHIL SALT, is happy to come back to winning ways. Believes that this is when a team needs to peak, around the business end of the tournament and sharpen its skills. Feels that the pitch got a bit better in the second innings but is relatively happy for the way the batters scored the runs.

Team Abu Dhabi's MARK ADAIR HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his 1/12 in 2 overs. Is happy with the way he bowled and also happy for his team to return to winning ways after losing 2 in a row. Says that his role is to bowl accurately in his 2 overs and not give much.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, after being asked to bat first, Chennai were all at sea against the moving ball. It was seaming and swinging, and the Abu Dhabi bowlers made full use of the conditions. It perhaps becamse easier to bat later on but because of the slow start, the Jaguars could not quite get rolling. Thanks to some generosity from Abu Dhabi due to which Thisara was dropped thrice, the score managed to tick past 100, thanks to his quickfire 45 (20). Remove that and it would have been a sorry tale for the bottom dwellers. 5 losses out of 5 now and they need plenty of inspiration to end the tournament without a wooden spoon. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

With the wickets not coming their way, the task kept getting difficult for Chennai Brave Jaguars. Nuwan Thushara, skipper Thisara Perera and impact player Garuka Sanketh bowled really well, but there was nothing much to speak in the wickets' column. Maybe, if they had got a few wickets, this match might have ended up being closer.

Phil Salt was looking at his absolute best, carrying his form from the Caribbean and because he was there, Bairstow's struggles did not quite come to light. There was a slight moment, when Thisara Perera was bowling, trying to starve Salt of strike and runs, but eventually, thre Abu Dhabi skipper soaked it all up and wrapped up the victory, staying unbeaten on 43.

104 always looked a touch difficult to defend and Chennai needed early wickets. They did not quite get that, albeit Michael Pepper departed in the 4th over. By then, the score had already crossed 30. Jonny Bairstow then joined Phil Salt and their 48-run stand made the deal quite comfortable.

Job comfortably done by Abu Dhabi. They were already in third place before this game and they stay where they where, but improve their net run rate slightly. Sadly, for Chennai Brave Jaguars, their caravan ends in this tournament, in terms of qualifying for the playoffs. They still have a couple of games to play for pride.

FOUR! That ends the game! Lawrence tosses this up around off, Phil Salt just comes forward and plays a normal cricketing shot to the left of long off. He calls for two but the fielder is not getting anywhere near the ball. Boundary results and TEAM ABU DHABI WIN BY 8 WICKETS AND 5 BALLS TO SPARE!

Okay. An over left for formality. Dan Lawrence to bowl.

FOUR! Just a hit away now, are Abu Dhabi. A length ball, around middle, Mayers goes for the slog again but gets it from the inner half of his bat. It flies over square leg and reaches the fence. 14 from the over, Nuwan Thushara's figures end at 2-0-21-0.

FOUR! Insult to injury. A dropped catch previous ball and now a boundary on the next. Thushara goes full again and Kyle Mayers swings hard. Gets a thick inside edge instead, which races past the off stump and the diving keeper to his right, to the fine leg fence! 6 needed from 7 balls now.

DROPPED! Oh dear. If there was any last bit of straw for Chennai, Matiullah Khan has just spit it out. A length ball, around middle, Phil Salt looks to work it to the leg side but is way too early into the stroke. As a result, he gets a leading edge, which goes towards mid off. Khan gets across to his left from mid off but puts it down! A single taken.

Another slower ball, fuller in length, angling away, wide outside off. Kyle is well across his stumps and swings again, only to miss. However, this time, the keeper, Mohammed Shamaaz, cannot collect it cleanly and parries it to short third. A bye taken.

Slower ball, on a length, around off, angling away, Mayers swings but misses.

EDGED, FOUR! Full and wide outside off, Kyle Mayers stays leg side of the ball and throws his bat at it. Gets a thick outside edge, which flies over short third!