Moeen Ali’s rapid knock of 31 was in vain as his side, Team Abu Dhabi, went down by 24 runs to Maratha Arabians in the final T10 League Group B encounter in Abu Dhabi.
The Worcestershire and England all-rounder faced just 11 deliveries and smashed two sixes and four fours.
Shiraz Ahmed faced the bulk of Moeen’s onslaught in an eight ball over which cost 28 runs.
When he was second out – caught behind off Wanindu Hasaranga – with the total on 65 in just 4.5 overs, Team Abu Dhabi were almost up with the required scoring rate.
But Luke Wright (40 not out off 25 balls) and Lewis Gregory (23 not out) could not maintain the same rate and Team Abu Dhabi closed on 114-3.
Former Worcestershire overseas signing, Mitchell McClenaghan, and his new ball partner, Lasith Malinga, were the most economical bowlers with figures of 2-0-17-1 and 2-0-13-1 respectively.
Team Abu Dhabi were set such a daunting target thanks to a hurricane knock from Chris Lynn whose unbeaten 91 came off 30 balls.
It contained seven sixes and nine fours as Arabians totalled 138-2 after being put into bat.
Team Abu Dhabi finished third in the four team group but all of the teams – along with the four in Group A – will now go into a ‘Super League’ with the three fixtures each team will play being decided by the placing of the teams in the initial groups.
