After Zak attack, Yuvi turns back the clock

Abu Dhabi - Yuvi scored an unbeaten 12-ball 23

After Zaheer Khan had turned back the clock earlier, his former India mate Yuvraj Singh too followed in turning back the years in the Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Watched by a goodly Friday crowd at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Yuvraj showed glimpses of his old self as the Maratha Arabians wrapped their Super League engagements and celebrated their play-off spot by besting the Bangla Tigers by seven wickets.
Yuvi, the hero of some memorable Indian victories in the past, bunted an unbeaten 12-ball 23 with two delightful sixes and a boundary. And his calming influence rubbed off on the young Najibullah Zadran, with the Afghan brutal in an unbeaten 36 from 15 balls that saw four boundaries and two sixes.
The Arabians, who finished top of the table, will play the Qalandars, who finished second in the Qualifier 1 on Saturday. The Bangla Tigers, third on the table, take on the Deccan Gladiators in the Eliminator.
Andy Flower, the coach of the Arabians was delighted that he and the team can count on Yuvi's experience.
"We've got limited time in this competition and we had only one practice before we played our first game. So, it is great getting this momentum, it is brilliant to top the table," said Flower.
"And I think we've seen with Bravo as captain, a bit of experience, Yuvi coming in and being calm out there in the middle today. And then, some of the youngsters providing some amazing batting. Najibullah was beautiful today (Friday). So, it is brilliant for the guys to be so confident and going into the play-offs feeling confident," he added.
Continuing on Yuvi, the former England coach said: "He's been struggling with a back problem so he's been in and out of the side. So, we will see how he is tomorrow (Saturday). He's been really great with our team, been very good in our team meetings and in the dressing room. You know, you can't buy that experience. So, it has been great having him in the side, been really good as a coach to have someone of that experience in the side. And if you ally that to guys like Mitch (Mitchell McClenaghan), (Dwayne) Bravo, (Lasith) Malinga, they have been brilliant for our younger boys."
Brief scores:
Bangla Tigers: 106 for 7 in 10 overs (Tom Moores 43 not out, Robbie Frylinck 18, Andre Fletcher 13, Kasun Rajitha 2-18, Dwayne Bravo 2-24) lost to Maratha Arabians: 107 for 3 in 8.3 overs (Najibullah Zadran 36 not out, Yuvraj Singh 23 not out, Chris Lynn 23) by 7 wickets.
Man of the Match: Najibullah Zadran (Maratha Arabians).
TODAY'S MATCHES:
Qualifier 1: Maratha Arabians vs Qalandars, 3.30pm
Eliminator: Bangla Tigers vs Deccan Gladiators, 5.45pm
Eliminator 2: Runners-up of Qualifier 1 vs Winners of Eliminator, 8pm

QUALIFIER AND ELIMINATORS EXPLAINED:
ON SATURDAY...The winners of Qualifier 1 (Maratha Arabians vs Qalandars) go straight into the final, while the runners-up get another bite at the cherry with them going into Eliminator 2, where they await the winners of the Eliminator (Bangla Tigers vs Deccan Gladiators).

ON SUNDAY...The runners-up from the Eliminator and the runners-up from Eliminator 2 meet in the battle for third place, which will be followed by the final between the winners of Qualifier 1 and winners of Eliminator 2.