In a heart‑stopping finish at the Seven Districts Ground in Ajman, Abu Dhabi edged Emirates Blues by just two runs in the Emirates D10 League 2026 T10 showdown on Tuesday evening. With nine overs gone and the required run‑rate climbing, Rayan Khan unleashed a blistering 44 off 28 balls, taking the match to the final ball and forcing Emirates Blues to defend a modest 122‑5.
Match Summary
The toss saw Abu Dhabi win and elect to bowl first, a decision that initially paid dividends as Emirates Blues stumbled to 30‑2 in the powerplay. However, Aftab Alam Shah rescued his side with a sensational 70 off just 27 deliveries, anchoring a late surge that saw the Blues post a competitive Emirates Blues T10 score of 122‑5 in their full ten overs.
Chasing 123, Abu Dhabi got off to a steady start with Vriitya Aravind contributing a quick 30 off 15 balls. The real game‑changer arrived in the form of Rayan Khan, whose 44 off 28 balls, peppered with six fours and two sixes, propelled Abu Dhabi to 123‑2 in just 9.3 overs, sealing a narrow victory.
Key Performances
Aftab Alam Shah (Emirates Blues) – 70 runs off 27 balls, 8 fours, 3 sixes. His aggressive stroke‑play turned a precarious 30‑2 into a defendable total.
Mohammad Umar (Emirates Blues) – 1/25 in 2 overs. Tight spell that kept Abu Dhabi’s run‑rate in check during the early overs.
Ahmad Ali Khilji (Emirates Blues) – 1/9 in 1 over, a crucial breakthrough that dismissed Vriitya Aravind.
Rayan Khan (Abu Dhabi) – 44 runs off 28 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes. His calm finish under pressure earned Abu Dhabi the win.
Vriitya Aravind (Abu Dhabi) – 30 runs off 15 balls, setting a solid platform before Khan’s onslaught.
Mohd Anas Khan (Abu Dhabi) – 1/22 in 1 over, a late wicket that kept the chase within reach.
Turning Points
The match swung on two decisive moments. First, Shah’s 70 rescued the Blues from a collapse, pushing the Emirates Blues T10 score beyond 110 and giving them a fighting chance. Second, the penultimate over bowled by Ahmad Ali Khilji, where he dismissed Aravind for 30, shifted momentum to Abu Dhabi. Yet, it was Khan’s calculated assault in the final two overs that turned the tide, especially the boundary on the 9.2‑over ball that took the target to 123, leaving the Blues needing just one run off the final delivery.
Series Implications
With this win, Abu Dhabi improves to 5‑2 in the Emirates D10 League 2026, narrowing the gap on league leaders. The narrow margin highlights the competitive nature of the tournament and underscores the importance of finishing skills in the T10 format. Emirates Blues, now sitting at 4‑3, must regroup quickly; their reliance on a single innings from Shah exposed a vulnerability in depth, especially in the death overs.
Looking ahead, both sides have crucial fixtures. Abu Dhabi will face the high‑flying Dubai Knights next, where Khan’s finishing prowess will be tested again. Emirates Blues, meanwhile, must find a secondary finisher to complement Shah, or risk slipping further down the table.
Cricket fans searching for Abu Dhabi cricket today or the Emirates D10 League 2026 live score will note this match as a classic example of T10 drama – a low‑scoring thriller decided in the final ball, showcasing the league’s growing stature in the region.
Zainullah Khan
Ahmed Tariq
Aftab Alam Shah
Ethan Carl D'Souza
Asif Taniwal✱
Tahir Zaman
Mohammad Umar
Muhammad Wali
Ahmad Ali Khilji
Muhammad Umair
Muhammad Fawad
Vriitya Aravind
Luqman Faisal
Rayan Khan✱
Nasir Faraz✱
Mohd Anas KHAN
Usama Jameel
Falak Noor Sadiq
Vicky Ranjan