The defending champions, India Women, continued their ruthless march in the Asia Cup T20 with a resounding 78-run victory over the United Arab Emirates Women in Dambulla, Sri Lanka on July 21st. This emphatic win showcases India’s early dominance in the tournament and sends a strong message to their competitors.
Electing to Bat First, India Builds a Mammoth Total
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India got off to a steady start with openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laying a solid foundation. Mandhana, known for her elegant strokeplay, played a crucial role in anchoring the innings. She looked comfortable against the UAE bowling attack, finding gaps and rotating the strike efficiently. However, her dismissal in the third over for a watchful 11 runs put a slight halt to the momentum.
The young prodigy, Shafali Verma, provided a much-needed spark at the other end. True to her aggressive style, she unleashed a flurry of boundaries, peppering the off-side field with her powerful strokes. Her 18-ball 37, laced with five fours and a six, provided India with a quickfire boost before she departed in the fifth over.
Following the dismissals of the openers, a mini-collapse threatened to derail the Indian innings. Jemimah Rodrigues, who has been in sublime form recently, fell cheaply for just 7 runs. The experienced campaigner, Deepti Sharma, also failed to capitalize on the start, getting dismissed for a single-digit score.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh Take Center Stage
With India at 52/3 in the eighth over, the onus fell on skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to rebuild the innings. The seasoned leader displayed her composure and experience, stitching together a crucial partnership with wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh. Kaur played a captain’s knock, anchoring the innings with a well-constructed 66 runs off 47 deliveries. She found the boundary with ease when presented with scoring opportunities and rotated the strike effectively.
The turning point of the Indian innings arrived with the introduction of the young wicket-keeper batter, Richa Ghosh. Ghosh, known for her fearless approach and power-hitting abilities, played a sensational knock that completely shifted the momentum in India’s favor. She took the UAE bowling attack by storm, launching into a whirlwind innings of 44 runs from just 23 deliveries. Her knock was a masterclass in clean hitting, peppered with four boundaries and three towering sixes. The duo of Kaur and Ghosh added a vital 88-run partnership for the fourth wicket, propelling India towards a strong total.
Towards the end of the innings, the Indian lower-order batters capitalized on the platform provided by the top and middle order. Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar played some valuable cameos, taking India past the 200-run mark for the first time ever in a Women’s T20I match. The final score of 201/5 on the board represented a daunting task for the UAE batters.
Clinical Bowling Performance by India Restricts UAE
The Indian bowling attack, known for its variety and depth, took the field with the intent of defending a mammoth total. Deepti Sharma, who had a forgettable outing with the bat, redeemed herself with a stellar bowling performance. Her nagging off-spin troubled the UAE batters, and she managed to pick up two crucial wickets. Rajeshwari Gayakwad, the left-arm spinner, was equally impressive, providing tight control and economical bowling spells. She conceded just 18 runs in her four overs, putting immense pressure on the UAE batters.
The Indian pacer Shikha Pandey also chipped in with a wicket, while the young spinner Radha Yadav maintained a disciplined bowling line and length. The fielding performance by India was equally commendable, with sharp catches and athleticism preventing any easy scoring opportunities for the UAE batters. The well-coordinated bowling and fielding display by India restricted the UAE to a paltry 123 runs in their allotted 20 overs, securing a comprehensive 78-run victory.
Dominant Performance Strengthens India’s Position
This emphatic victory over the UAE Women strengthens India’s position at the top of Group A in the Asia Cup T20. It showcases the team’s well-rounded performance, with contributions coming from all departments. The opening partnership provided a solid foundation, the middle-order anchored the innings with composed batting, and the lower-order added valuable runs at the death. The bowling attack, spearheaded by the spinners, displayed excellent control and variation, making it difficult for the UAE batters to score freely.
