Tom Kohler-Cadmore smashed an unbeaten 78 off 29 balls as defending champions Deccan Gladiators beat UAE Bulls by six runs on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

The opener brought up his half-century off 20 balls and hit six fours and seven sixes as Gladiators posted 141-2 after being asked to bat.

He shared 98 for the second wicket with Namibia’s David Wiese, who made 35 off 17, before Australia’s Marcus Stoinis finished the innings with three successive fours.

In reply, England’s Phil Salt hit the second, third and fourth ball of the Bulls’ chase for six, before he was caught off West Indies’ Akeal Hosein off the fifth.

Bulls were struggling at 72-5 with England’s Luke Wood removing James Vince and Rovan Powell, but Australia’s Tim David gave them hope.

They needed 21 off the final over but David, who faced all six balls, could only add 14.

In Tuesday’s other game, Liam Livingstone captained Quetta Qavalry to a comfortable 51-run win over Northern Warriors.

Qavalry were asked to bat first and posted 133-5 with Khawaja Nafay smashing 45 not out off 12 balls. He was supported by Livingstone’s 10-ball 24 and Jason Holder’s 24 not out.

Warriors were always behind the rate in reply and finished 82-2 with New Zealand’s Colin Munro dismissed for 44 off the final ball.