Morrisville Samp Army players celebrate a wicket. — Supplied photo
Morrisville Samp Army secured their place in the final, where they will once again face the Deccan Gladiators in the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10, the league's eighth edition, at Zayed Cricket Stadium. Chasing a target of 90, USA international Andries Gous withstood the pressure from the Delhi Bulls' bowling attack but held firm to steer his team to victory with a vital 38-run contribution. The right-handed batsman continued his innings despite wickets falling at the other end and maintained his composure even after being hit on the helmet by Pakistan fast bowler Salman Irshad.
However, the game took a turn when Irshad claimed the wickets of Gous and Karim Janat consecutively, leaving Samp Army in a challenging position, needing 30 runs to win in three overs with only five wickets remaining. England's Jack Taylor and Pakistan's experienced batsman Imad Wasim ensured they kept the scoreboard moving. After settling in with a few deliveries, the duo began hitting boundaries and sealed the chase with three balls to spare. Taylor's unbeaten 23 off 11 balls was sufficient to secure Morrisville's passage to the final as they won the match by five wickets.
Earlier, Delhi Bulls were hampered by a stellar bowling display from Samp Army, with Sri Lankan international Isuru Udana and Afghanistan spinner Amir Hamza dismantling the Bulls' formidable batting lineup. Udana claimed three wickets for 17 runs in his two overs, while Hamza took two wickets for 22 runs. The left-arm pacer was also awarded the man of the match for his performance.
Samp Army restricted the Bulls to 89/7 in 10 overs, setting up a straightforward chase, which they comfortably achieved with five balls remaining.
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