UT vs RDC T10 2026: Afridi 3/10, United Tigers Win by 9 Wkts
Published on November 9, 2026
Summary Overview: United Tigers beat Royal Desert Champions by 9 wickets with 18 balls to spare in the Abu Dhabi T10 2026 at Zayed Cricket Stadium. Abbas Afridi took 3 for 10 and Awais Ali removed Nicholas Pooran first ball as RDC made 81 for 9, before Fakhar Zaman's 45 not out finished the chase. The Tigers have won all three games.
Who won? United Tigers, by 9 wickets with 18 balls to spare at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Royal Desert Champions made 81 for 9 in their 10 overs, and the Tigers reached 84 for 1 in 7 overs.
Who starred? Abbas Afridi took 3 for 10 from his two overs and was named Player of the Match, and Awais Ali removed RDC captain Nicholas Pooran with the first ball of the match. Tigers captain Fakhar Zaman hit three sixes in 45 not out off 21.
What about RDC? Muhammad Waseem top-scored with 24 off 17, and Naseem Shah hit 18 not out off 10 at No. 10, but no one else passed 11.
What does it mean? The Tigers have won all three of their games and stay top of the table. Royal Desert Champions have lost all three and are bottom.
Match Report: The Tigers Stay Perfect
For readers new to the format: in T10 cricket, each team bats for just 10 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), and a whole match lasts about 90 minutes. A batter out on the first ball they face is said to be out for a golden duck.
Royal Desert Champions' Innings: Trouble From Ball One
Tigers captain Fakhar Zaman won the toss and chose to bowl, and Awais Ali struck with the very first ball, having Nicholas Pooran caught by Sahibzada Farhan for a golden duck. Awais then bowled Phil Salt for 2, and Abbas Afridi removed Sherfane Rutherford (9 off 4). RDC were 26 for 3 in the fourth over.
Muhammad Waseem fought back with four fours in 24 off 17, but Faheem Ashraf took two wickets in two balls in the sixth over, trapping Waseem lbw and having Tajinder Dhillon caught first ball. At 43 for 5, RDC were in deep trouble.
Afridi then took two more wickets in the eighth over, removing Janith Liyanage (11) and Chris Jordan, both caught by Iftikhar Ahmed, and Azmatullah Omarzai had Keemo Paul caught by Awais at the start of the next over. RDC were 62 for 8. Naseem Shah hit two fours and a six in 18 not out off 10 to lift them to 81 for 9, with Ali Naseer run out off the last ball.
United Tigers' Chase: Fakhar Finishes It Fast
The Tigers needed 82 and took 28 from the first two overs. Keemo Paul had Sahibzada Farhan (12 off 9) caught by Jordan, but that was RDC's only success.
Fakhar Zaman and Joe Clarke added an unbroken 56 off 28 balls. Fakhar hit four fours and three sixes in 45 not out off 21, and Clarke hit five fours in 25 not out off 12. The Tigers won with 18 balls to spare.
Turning Point: Awais Ali's First Ball
Losing captain Nicholas Pooran to the first ball of the match set the tone. RDC never recovered from that start, losing wickets regularly, and 81 for 9 gave the Tigers an easy chase.
Stat Corner
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Abbas Afridi | United Tigers | 3 for 10 (2 overs), plus a catch, Player of the Match |
| Awais Ali | United Tigers | 2 for 16 (2 overs), plus a catch |
| Faheem Ashraf | United Tigers | 2 for 21 (2 overs) |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | United Tigers | 1 for 13 (2 overs) |
| Fakhar Zaman (c) | United Tigers | 45* (21), 4 fours, 3 sixes, plus a catch |
| Joe Clarke (wk) | United Tigers | 25* (12), 5 fours |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | United Tigers | Two catches |
| Muhammad Waseem | Royal Desert Champions | 24 (17), 4 fours |
| Naseem Shah | Royal Desert Champions | 18* (10), 2 fours, 1 six |
| Keemo Paul | Royal Desert Champions | 1 for 23 (2 overs), the only wicket |
* not out
How the Game Turned
| Moment | Score |
| Pooran out first ball | RDC 0 for 1 |
| Three early wickets | 26 for 3 (3.2 overs) |
| Faheem's two in two | 43 for 3 to 43 for 5 (5.2 overs) |
| Afridi and Omarzai strike | 58 for 5 to 62 for 8 (8.1 overs) |
| Naseem Shah's late hitting | 18* off 10 balls |
| RDC total | 81 for 9 (10 overs) |
| Tigers' first two overs | 28 for 0 |
| Fakhar and Clarke stand | 56* off 28 balls |
| Tigers win | 84 for 1 (7 overs) |
First Two Overs
| Team | Score |
| Royal Desert Champions | 12 for 1 |
| United Tigers | 28 for 0 |
Playing XIs
| Team | Playing XI |
| United Tigers | Joe Clarke (wk), Fakhar Zaman (c), Sahibzada Farhan, Avishka Fernando, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azmatullah Omarzai, Faheem Ashraf, Awais Ali, Abbas Afridi, Usman Tariq, Zeeshan Naseer |
| Royal Desert Champions | Phil Salt (wk), Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Janith Liyanage, Keemo Paul, Tajinder Dhillon, Ali Naseer, Chris Jordan, Luke Wood, Naseem Shah |
Changes: the Tigers brought in Sahibzada Farhan for Odean Smith. RDC brought in Tajinder Dhillon and Naseem Shah for Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera.
Abu Dhabi T10 2026 Table After Match 8
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | Net Run Rate |
| United Tigers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | +3.930 |
| Arabian Aces | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | +0.116 |
| Yas Lions | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.696 |
| UAE Bulls | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1.012 |
| Emirates Eagles | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1.576 |
| Royal Desert Champions | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -2.356 |
Net run rate compares how fast a team scores with how fast its opponents score.
What's Next
| Match | Date | Fixture | Local (GST) | UK (GMT) | PKT | IST | ET |
| 9 | Tue, Nov 10 | Yas Lions vs United Tigers | 5:45 PM | 1:45 PM | 6:45 PM | 7:15 PM | 8:45 AM |
| 10 | Tue, Nov 10 | UAE Bulls vs Emirates Eagles | 8:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 11:00 AM |
| 11 | Wed, Nov 11 | Royal Desert Champions vs UAE Bulls | 5:45 PM | 1:45 PM | 6:45 PM | 7:15 PM | 8:45 AM |
| 12 | Wed, Nov 11 | Arabian Aces vs Yas Lions | 8:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 11:00 AM |
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. GST is Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4). ET is US Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won United Tigers vs Royal Desert Champions?
- United Tigers, by 9 wickets with 18 balls to spare.
Who was Player of the Match?
- Abbas Afridi, for 3 for 10.
Who took the most wickets?
- Abbas Afridi, with 3 for 10 from his two overs.
How was Nicholas Pooran out?
- Caught by Sahibzada Farhan off Awais Ali, from the first ball of the match.
Are the United Tigers unbeaten?
- Yes. They have won all three of their games and are top of the table.
When do the United Tigers play next?
- Tuesday, November 10, against Yas Lions at 5:45 PM local time (7:15 PM IST, 6:45 PM PKT).