Saudi Arabia Women’s decision to bat first in the 13th match of the GCC Women’s Twenty20 Championship Cup at Al Amerat quickly turned into a nightmare. Kuwait Women put on a ruthless bowling performance that took control of the match from the very beginning. What many hoped would be a competitive matchup became a one-sided affair, as Kuwait’s disciplined attack dismantled the Saudi batting lineup with precision.
From the start, Saudi Arabia’s innings struggled to find any stability. The very first over set a grim tone when Abeer Maryam was run out for a duck, creating immediate pressure. Any thoughts of recovery were dashed as Nimra Ghazanfar followed suit, going for a duck in the third over after being caught off Maryam Omar’s bowling. With Najwa Akram managing just 1 run off 6 balls before falling to the same bowler, and Simrah Mirza trapped lbw by Maria Jasvi for another 1 run, it felt like a steady march back to the changing room.
Captain Mashael Waqas faced similar challenges, taking 16 balls before being run out for 0, illustrating the difficulties Saudi Arabia encountered against Kuwait’s sharp fielding and tight bowling. Usrha Umar Farooq and Rumaisa Jawad Nasir also couldn’t stop the decline, both departing for ducks to Amna Tariq, who bowled confidently through the middle overs. In quick succession, Saudi Arabia found themselves at 11 for 6 in just over seven overs, squashing any chance of forming meaningful partnerships.
The lower order provided a brief flicker of resistance, with Laiba Nasrullah remaining unbeaten on 2 off 13 balls. However, with wickets tumbling all around her, there was no momentum to be found, and Saudi Arabia was ultimately bowled out for just 20 runs in 12 overs—one of the tournament’s lowest totals, with 14 extras somehow contributing significantly to the score.
Kuwait’s bowling performance was exemplary and well-coordinated. Leading the attack, Maryam Omar achieved outstanding figures of 3 wickets for just 4 runs in her four overs, maintaining an astonishing economy of 1.00 at key moments. Amna Tariq backed her up beautifully, grabbing 2 wickets for 7 runs, and Maria Jasvi’s spell of 2 for 2 completely stifled the scoring. Zeefa Jilani also contributed with a wicket, while Kuwait’s fielders played a critical role with several runouts that compounded Saudi Arabia’s woes.
Chasing a modest target of 21, Kuwait Women showed no signs of complacency. Openers Zeefa Jilani and Venora D’Souza attacked the chase with intent, avoiding any unnecessary risks. Jilani wasted no time, scoring 10 runs off just 4 balls, including two boundaries, while D’Souza played a measured supporting role with 5 runs off 5 balls. The pair formed an undefeated 21-run opening partnership, completing the chase in only 1.3 overs without losing a single wicket.
Saudi Arabia’s bowlers struggled to make an impact, with Laiba Nasrullah conceding 8 runs in her lone over, and Mah Noor Aamir being expensive in her brief spell, giving away 13 runs in just three deliveries. The match wrapped up quickly, with Kuwait sealing a 10-wicket victory, finishing with 111 balls to spare. This emphatic win not only boosts Kuwait Women’s net run rate but also solidifies their status as serious contenders in the GCC Women’s T20 Championship Cup. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will be left reflecting on a batting performance that crumbled under pressure.
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