Saint Lucia and West Indies opening batsman Johnson Charles was named man of the match on Friday, as he led the Northern Warriors to victory over Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10.
The Bulls got to 109-6 from their 10 overs, Tom Banton 23, Adam Lyth 25, and James Vince 27, all three batting in the top four. The target could have been stiffer still but for the regular fall of wickets. Fareed Ahmad took 2-28 from two, and Azmatullah Omarzai 2-25, whilst Trent Boult was economical at 1-15.
The Warriors chase got off to an indifferent start, Finn Allen out for nine in the second over, and West Indies opener Brandon King succumbing for a duck five balls later. Opening the innings, Colin Munro contributed 18, but he was out by the fourth over.
Charles had faced only three balls by the time Munro went. By the time he was joined by fellow West Indian Sherfane Rutherford, the asking rate was 13 runs per over, 79 runs required from 37 balls, and three wickets down.
Within the space of two overs, the islanders had brought the run rate needed down to single figures. Rutherford hit Muhammad Rohid for a four and a six, and Charles blasted sixes over backward square leg, over point, and over deep cover from the bowling of Shahid Bhutta to take the Warriors to 71-3 after six overs.
Another Rutherford six from Fazalhaq Farooqi, and two Charles fours from impact sub Salman Irshad made the equation 19 wanted from 12 balls. But the man from Millet needed only six balls, smashing Naveen-ul-Haq over the fence thrice more to end on 54 from 23 balls. Rutherford was unbeaten on 20 from 12, as the Warriors won by seven wickets.
The Warriors play the Chennai Braves and UP Nawabs this weekend. In other action on Friday featuring West Indies players, Kyle Mayers hit 26 (3×4, 2×6) to lead Team Abu Dhabi to an eight-wicket win over UP Nawabs.
Photo Credit: Abu Dhabi T10
