Stallions Triumph Over Champs by 7 Runs in Abu Dhabi T10 Thriller

During the 22nd match of the Abu Dhabi T10 league on the night of November 26, 2025, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, the Aspin Stallions batted first after losing the toss and put up a strong total of 134 for 5 in their 10 overs, which eventually proved just enough to win by 7 runs against the Royal Champs.

Aspin Stallions Innings

The Stallions’ innings began in explosive fashion, completely dominated by their captain and opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Sanjay Pahal, who opened the bowling, was greeted with two towering sixes and a crunching four in the opening over itself. Gurbaz looked in sublime touch, his bat swing was clean, his balance perfect, and he picked the length early almost every single time. When Shakib Al Hasan, the experienced Bangladesh all-rounder, came on for the second over, Gurbaz welcomed him by depositing the very first ball deep into the mid-wicket stands for another maximum.

@aspin_stallions finish the half with a huge last ball wicket! 🔥🏏

Watch the next #T10League match live and exclusive on https://t.co/pCHqUi0Vjo#RCvsASP pic.twitter.com/5OgzyFJQ9y

— Willow TV Canada (@willowtv_canada) November 26, 2025

By the end of the third over, Gurbaz had raced to 30 off just 12 deliveries, a knock that contained one four and a remarkable five sixes. The score had flown to 48 in less than three overs, and the Stallions were cruising. However, just when it seemed Gurbaz would bat through and take the game away single-handedly, Sanjay Pahal produced a good short-of-length delivery in the fourth over. Gurbaz went for yet another big pull but got a thick top edge.

The ball went high towards deep mid-wicket where Liam Dawson, the English spinner, judged it perfectly and took a well-timed running catch. Gurbaz walked back for 30 off 12, and the Stallions were 53 for 1. The breakthrough gave the Champs some breathing space, but the dangerous Andre Fletcher was already at the crease. The West Indian keeper-batsman carried on the attack. He played some gorgeous strokes, especially through the off-side, driving crisply and lofting beautifully.

Fletcher struck three boundaries and one six in his short stay and looked comfortable until the same over that got Gurbaz brought his downfall too. Haider Razzaq, the young pacer, angled one in from a good length and beat Fletcher’s attempted big drive to crash into the off-stump. Fletcher departed for 19 off 12, and suddenly the Stallions slipped to 56 for 2 in the blink of an eye. Sherfane Rutherford, the hard-hitting left-hander from the West Indies, arrived at number three and immediately shifted gears again. He took a couple of balls to settle and then unleashed his power.

Liam Dawson was lofted straight down the ground for a massive six, and then Haider Razzaq was severely punished in the seventh over. Rutherford smoked him for two huge sixes over mid-wicket and followed it with a crashing four through covers. Eighteen runs came off that over, and the score moved quickly past 90. Rutherford’s 27 came off only 12 balls and contained three sixes and one four. He looked set for a lot more, but Haider Razzaq came back strongly in his next over, bowling a perfect yorker that tailed in late and rattled the stumps.

Rutherford was gone for 27, and two balls later disaster struck again. Avishka Fernando, who had been struggling to get going, pushed one towards cover and set off for a risky single. A direct hit from Chris Jordan at cover caught him well short, and the Stallions were suddenly 94 for 4 with just 16 balls remaining. The responsibility now fell on the experienced Australian all-rounder Ben Cutting and Afghan all-rounder Karim Janat to give the innings a strong finish. Cutting started aggressively, muscling a short ball from Chris Jordan over deep mid-wicket for six and then repeating the shot against Sanjay Pahal in the final over.

He struck two sixes and one four in his 7-ball 19 before skying a catch on the last ball of the innings to long-off. Karim Janat played a perfect supporting role at the other end. He stayed calm, picked the gaps, and found two boundaries and one six of his own. Janat finished unbeaten on 20 off just 8 deliveries. The last three overs yielded 40 valuable runs, taking the Stallions from a slightly shaky position to a competitive 134 for 5.

Contributions from the whole Aspin Stallions batting lineup 🤝

A massive chase coming up for the Royal Champs 🙌#AbuDhabiT10 #ADT10 #InAbuDhabi #CricketsFastestFormat pic.twitter.com/bHmvkLk41a

— T10 Global (@T10League) November 26, 2025

Extras contributed 7 (5 leg-byes and 2 wides), and the bowling figures showed how expensive the Champs attack had been, Isuru Udana went for 20 in his single over, Shakib conceded 17, and even Chris Jordan leaked 12 in his only over. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s blazing start was rightly rewarded with the Player of the Match award, even though the middle order had to work hard to keep the scoreboard ticking after his departure.

Royal Champs Innings

During the Royal Champs’ reply, they needed 135 in 10 overs, a stiff but achievable target in the T10 format. Jason Roy, the England opener and captain for the night, started confidently. He smashed Binura Fernando, the substitute Sri Lankan pacer, for a four and a six in the very first over, signaling positive intent. However, Binura came back brilliantly in the next over. Roy tried to loft a length ball over mid-on but got it slightly high on the bat and offered a simple catch to Sam Billings inside the circle. Roy was gone for 5, and the Champs were 18 for 1 early.

Mohammad Shahzad, the hard-hitting Afghan wicket-keeper, walked in and immediately took charge. He looked in terrific form, punishing anything short or overpitched. Tymal Mills was pulled for a flat six and then carved over point for four in the third over. Shahzad continued to find boundaries at regular intervals. He raced to 39 off just 22 balls with three sixes and four boundaries. The score was climbing nicely, and the required rate was under control. Tragedy struck, however, when Shahzad pulled a muscle while completing a quick single and had to retire hurt. It was a massive blow for the Champs, as Shahzad was their most destructive batsman on the night and was well set to finish the chase.

Brandon McMullen from Scotland and USA’s Aaron Jones now had the responsibility of carrying the innings forward. McMullen batted beautifully from the moment he arrived. He lofted Ashmead Nedd inside-out for a lovely four and then pulled Hafeez-ur-Rehman for a massive six over square leg. The partnership grew rapidly, and the hundred came up in the eighth over. McMullen brought up a superb fifty off just 24 balls and kept finding boundaries almost every over. Aaron Jones played the ideal supporting role, rotating the strike and hitting the occasional big shot himself. The second-wicket stand was worth 101 runs when, in the ninth over, Karim Janat finally broke through. Jones went for a wild heave across the line against a full ball and lost his middle stump for 8.

Sixteen runs were needed off the final over. Chris Jordan, one of the best death-over hitters in the world, joined McMullen. The first ball from Binura Fernando was a length delivery outside off, and Jordan launched it high and handsome over long-on for a huge six. Suddenly, the equation was down to 9 needed off 4 balls, and the stadium came alive. Binura kept his composure, banged in a quick bouncer next ball, and Jordan’s pull went straight to deep square leg, where the fielder took a simple catch.

A tough result to swallow for the @royalchamps_ who kept themselves in the game right until the end 🙌#AbuDhabiT10 #ADT10 #CricketsFastestFormat #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/oPV5zBU8dm

— T10 Global (@T10League) November 26, 2025

Jordan departed for 8 off 3 balls. The last two deliveries produced only two singles, and the Royal Champs finished on 127 for 2. Brandon McMullen remained unbeaten on a magnificent 59 off 28 balls, with four fours and four sixes, but his brilliant effort went in vain. The early loss of Roy and, more crucially, Shahzad’s retirement hurt proved too much to overcome in the end. The 7-run victory lifted the Stallions in the points table and gave them two crucial points, while the Royal Champs remained winless in the tournament so far.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Batting with pure fire, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave the Aspin Stallions the perfect start in this 10-over blast and easily claimed the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game. The Afghan opener and captain walked out swinging from ball one and tore into the bowling attack like it was personal. In just 12 balls, he smashed a breathtaking 30 runs, with three towering sixes and one four, racing to a strike rate of 250.00, the highest of the match by a mile.

Andre Russell and Rahmanullah Gurbaz reunited at Abu Dhabi T10. pic.twitter.com/IHmDjEyEph

— KnightRidersXtra (@KKR_Xtra) November 26, 2025

His innings set the tone in the power play. He took a special liking to Sanjay Pahal and Liam Dawson, launching them clean out of the park. The highlight was a massive six over midwicket that flew into the night sky and had the crowd roaring. Even though he fell in the fourth over, caught at deep point off Dawson while trying to keep the accelerator down, those 30 explosive runs in 3.3 overs lifted Aspin Stallions to 53/1 and gave them the momentum that carried through the innings.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

During the Royal Champs’ thrilling chase of 135 in just 10 overs, Brandon McMullen stole the show and was rightly named TCNI’s Hero of the Day for his sensational unbeaten knock. Walking in after Jason Roy’s early dismissal for 5, McMullen took the innings by storm and finished with a breathtaking 59 not out off only 28 balls, at a staggering strike rate of 210.71.

Brandon McMullen vs APS

59*(28)
4 sixes , 4 fours
S/R: 211 pic.twitter.com/O6eEdtB6BS

— Zaid ᴷᴷᴿ (@zaidyyy96) November 26, 2025

He smashed 4 fours and 4 huge sixes, playing proper cricketing shots while clearing the ropes with ease. After Mohammad Shahzad retired hurt on 39, McMullen took complete charge. He built a match-winning 101-run partnership with Aaron Jones (8) and then finished the job calmly with Chris Jordan (8*). His fifty came up in quick time and kept the required rate well under control throughout.