India registered their second straight victory in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024 by thrashing United Arab Emirates (UAE) by a comfortable 78-run margin. It was a complete team effort as both batters and bowlers put on a fine display under the scorching sun at Dambulla, Sri Lanka. While Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh and Shafali shone with the bat, whereas Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav and all other chipped in with wickets.
India Piled on 201 Batting First vs UAE in Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024
United Arab Emirates Skipper Esha Rohit Oza won the toss and put India into bat first. Both openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana continued from where they left off in the previous game where India beat Pakistan in their opening encounter in Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024. Smriti clobbered Khushi Sharma for six and four off consecutive balls before Shafali smashed through the mid-off region to take India to 23 in 2 overs.
However, Smriti got out on the very first ball of the third over in her attempt to blast one through the off-side region. She could not get much bat into it and was snapped by Rinitha Rajith. However, Shafali continued to be offensive by smacking Kavisha for six and four off two balls, making India’s intention of going for the kill clear in the minds of the UAE. Nothing went UAE’s way as Shafali kept smoking UAE’s bowlers to all corners of the park. India raced to 50 in just 4.2 overs owing to Shafali’s blitzkrieg.
UAE Struck with Back-to-Back Wickets
Shafali got too ambitious by attempting to pull one way outside the off stump only to induce a thin edge to the wicketkeeper Samaira off Theertha Satish. She scored a brisk 37 off 18 balls. Hemalatha departed the next ball as she tried to pull a relatively full delivery from Heena but was done in by the change of pace. It skidded off the deck to hit the off pole. Soon India were reduced to 52 for 3.
Consolidation Act from the Experienced Duo of Harmanpreet and Jemimah
The onus was on skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues to consolidate the innings. Courtesy of the blistering start provided by Shafali, they were able to drop down the anchor. Both of them took the innings further with singles and twos. Meanwhile, UAE spinners led by Heena Hotchandani were right on the money by bowling to the field.
Harmanpreet hit her first four by rocking back and guiding the ball past the wicketkeeper and the point fielder for four. They were not missing out on sloppy fielding from the UAE. Soon, Harmanpreet climbed on Kavisha by sweeping one hard in front of square for a four. On the other hand, Jemimah was content milking the deliveries. At the end of 10 overs, India reached 87 for 3.
India Went Full Throttle After Drinks in Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024 Encounter Against UAE
Harmanpreet hit two successive fours after the drinks break. She hit Vaishnave by pulling one through the mid-wicket region for four before sweeping one in front of square for another boundary. India reached 100 in 10.5 overs. The stage was perfect for India to put on a massive total upfront in the second encounter of Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024. However, Rodrigues fell to a flighted ball of Kavisha by hitting straight down the throat of Rithika Rajith at mid-off.
Richa Ghosh got into the act quickly by smacking one wide delivery off Esha through the covers for a four. She continued to hit boundaries through the off-side field. Meanwhile Harmnapreet registered her 50 off 41 balls, a captain’s knock that took India out of a spot of bother at one stage. In the 19th over, Harmanpreet used her long handle by smashing Samaira for two fours and one massive six over deep square leg boundary.
However, Harmanpreet got run out on the first ball of the last over as she went by the call of Richa for a single, but the latter sent her back. However, it was too late as Harmanpreet was found short of the crease. She scored 66 off 47 balls. Richa hit four 4s in the last over to take India past 200 for the first time in T20Is. They finished at 201 for 5 at the end of 20 overs against UAE in Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024. Richa scored 64 not out and was handed the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
UAE Lose Two Wickets in the First Powerplay vs India in Women’s T20 Aisa Cup 2024
Openers Esha Rohit Oza and Theertha Satish were circumspect as Renuka Singh and Tanuja bowled tidily. UAE could manage only two runs in the first two overs before Esha struck one through the off-side field for four in Renuka’s second over. Theertha followed the suit by thumping one straight past the bowler for a boundary. Renuka made a strong comeback in her next over by dislodging Theertha who perished trying to hit one past the mid-on fielder. But she could not as ball found the safe hands of Harmanpreet Kaur.
Rinitha Rajith came with an intent by smashing the very ball she faced to the fence. Esha a couple of balls later guided it past the wicketkeeper for a four. Pooja Vastrakar struck in her first over by knocking the off stump of Rajith. She almost had Esha out as the UAE skipper was squared up against the outgoing delivery. Fortunately, the ball landed outside the first slip fielder and went to the boundary rope. Esha got a life in the 7th over as Jemimah could not hold on to a chip shot played by the batter.
What Happened After the 7th Over in the UAE’s Innings?
Deepti Sharma continued his rich vein of form by getting rid of Samaira who was caught by Tanuja at mid-wicket. However, Esha smashed Deepti out of the park. Nice sound of the bat came through as she bent on one knee to heave it deep into the on-side. Esha charged down the track to Radha Yadav in the next over for a four at long off. She hit one more boundary in that over. Kavisha Egodage joined in the act by hitting two successive fours off Pooja in the next over. UAE’s run rate climbed past six for the first time in the 10th over. They scored 67 for three at the end of 10 overs, 20 runs short of what India achieved at that point losing the same number of wickets.
UAE Could Not Up the Ante After the Drinks Break in Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024
Kavisha and Esha continued to consolidate the UAE’s innings by taking 1s and 2s and hit an odd boundary in between. However, the asking rate was touching nearly 16 as Radha Yadav, Tanuja Kanwar and Deepti Sharma continue to stifle the two UAE batters in the middle. Tanuja picked up her first wicket in international cricket by getting Esha stumped by Richa Ghosh for 38. UAE were found reeling at 76 for 4. Kavisha then hit one for a six off Deepti. Khushi smashed one on the leg-side off the bowling of Renuka Singh to hit her first boundary. UAE reached 94 for 4 at the end of 15 overs.
The Final Five-over Battle Between India and UAE in Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024
India were rewarded with a crucial wicket of Khushi as Radha cramped the former for room and got her caught by Smriti Mandhana in the covers. Heena started brilliantly by hitting Radha in the deep mid-wicket region for a boundary. UAE reached 100 in 16.1 overs. The pressure got too much to handle as Heena hit one straight down to Shafali Verma at long on. Deepti finished with 2 for 23 at the end of her four overs. Kavisha was found alone in the battle as Indians tightened the screws on UAE to register a 78-run victory. UAE finished with 123 for 7 in 20 overs.
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