India vs UAE Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024: India Sets a Challenging Target in Dambulla

News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/21st July 2024

In the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 clash held at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday, the Indian women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, faced off against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). UAE’s captain, Esha Rohit Oza, won the toss and chose to bowl first. Despite the decision to field, India’s batting prowess was on full display as they amassed a formidable total of 201 for the loss of five wickets in their 20 overs.

The Indian innings was anchored by impressive half-centuries from Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur. Ghosh played a blistering knock, scoring 64 runs off just 29 balls, which marked her career-best in T20 internationals. Her aggressive batting helped India reach a massive total. Kaur, the Indian captain, also contributed significantly, scoring 55 runs and stabilizing the innings when India faced a few early wickets.

As the match progressed, it became evident that India’s top-order and middle-order batters were in fine form. Ghosh’s explosive innings was a key highlight, injecting momentum into the Indian innings. Kaur’s partnership with Ghosh was crucial in propelling India past the 200-run mark, a milestone they reached for the first time in women’s T20Is.

The pitch at Dambulla was noted for its good batting conditions, with a bit of grass and dry patches offering some assistance to bowlers, particularly spinners. Despite the conditions favoring batting, the UAE bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batters. The UAE’s strategy to bowl first did not quite pay off as planned, with India’s aggressive approach proving too much for them.

The UAE’s bowling attack, which included notable bowlers like Dharnidarka and Vaishnave Mahesh, failed to make significant inroads into the Indian batting lineup. The UAE’s fielding, too, lacked the sharpness needed to restrict such a high-scoring team. Even though they managed to take a few wickets, the Indian batters’ aggressive intent ensured that the run rate remained high throughout the innings.

With the upcoming T20 World Cup on the horizon, the Asia Cup is a crucial tournament for teams to fine-tune their strategies. Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized that while the Asia Cup is an important competition, it is not merely a preparatory event for the World Cup. Her team’s performance in this match demonstrated their intent to secure the Asia Cup title and build momentum ahead of the global tournament.

For the UAE to chase down the daunting target of 202 runs, they will need an extraordinary performance. India’s total has set a high bar, and the UAE’s batting lineup will need to deliver an exceptional effort to surpass this challenging score. As the match unfolds, all eyes will be on whether the UAE can rise to the occasion and mount a successful chase against a formidable Indian side.