Defenders down Aces in Abu Dhabi T20 opener

Boost Defenders captain Colin Ingram smashed an unbeaten 84 from 47 to lead his side to a 35-run victory in their Abu Dhabi T20 opener

Boost Defenders captain Colin Ingram smashed an unbeaten 84 from 47 to lead his side to a 35-run victory in their Abu Dhabi T20 opener.

The experienced T20 batsman used his feet gloriously throughout the innings as Auckland - who won the toss and chose to field first - struggled for consistency and penetration.

The left-hander - coming in at No.3 - shared a 75-run sixth-wicket stand with Noor-ul-Haq to push the Defenders, who are coached by James Foster, beyond 200.

With a daunting total on the board, the Aces were always under pressure and against a useful bowling unit, including South African Kyle Abbott, it proved to be too great a total.

The class of Abbott showed with just four runs coming from his first over. The first delivery of his second found the top Michael Guptill-Bunce’s middle stump.

Sean Solia (29 off 23) gave the chase some momentum but Jeevan Mendis had him caught and bowled to leave the Aces 48 for 2 and well behind the rate.

^{Kyle Abbott was the pick of the bowlers}

Auckland were 75-2 at the halfway stage and needed a big finish. Robbie O’Donnell and Craig Cachopa began to produce some expansive shots in a partnership of 49. 

Who would the captain turn to break the partnership? Ingram brought himself into the attack and removed Cachopa (23) with his first delivery. Noor-ul-Haq taking the catch at short third man.

Graeme Beghin hit 23 off 14 before Abbott returned for his second spell and clean bowled the batsman for his second wicket of the day. The Hampshire seamer had Benjamin Horne caught on the boundary for his third to finish with figures of 3 for 21 from his four-over spell.

O’Donnell finished unbeaten on 67 but did not have the support required and the Aces bowlers had left the batsman too much to do.

In the Defenders innings, there was early swing for Aces’ left-arm seamer Ben Lister who got the breakthrough, sending Ramith Rambukwella’s middle stump tumbling.

^{Cameron Delport set the tone for Boost Defenders}

Cameron Delport came out swinging, hitting 36 from 20 before picking out Beghin who took a fine catch coming in from the boundary. 

Matthew McEwan struck to remove the dangerous Hashmatullah Shahidi - who comes into the competition in fine form, having scored 263 runs at 65.75 at the Asia Cup.

Younas Ahmadzai added 19 to the total before attacking the spin of William Somerville and picking out O’Donnell at long-on.

Worcestershire’s Ben Cox (9) went to the same combination of bowler and fielder to leave the Defenders five down before Ingram and Noor-ul-Haq drove the innings home in style.

Ingram brought up his fifty by carving a glorious six over extra cover. There was another huge six in the 19th and a straight six off Lister in the final over to bring up the 200.

The skipper praised his side’s start to the tournament: "205 on the board is a good effort. It was a pretty good wicket. Cameron Delport set the tone. I think our guys played cleverly and we got some flow going towards the back end. Kyle Abbott bowled beautifully with the new ball the came back at the death and nailed his yorkers."