The 15th match of the GCC Women’s Twenty20 Championship Cup 2025 at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1) delivered an impressive performance from Oman Women, who chased down the target with confidence, defeating Qatar Women by six wickets with 26 balls to spare.
After winning the toss and opting to field first, Oman executed their game plan effectively, limiting Qatar to a modest total before sealing the win with a steady batting display. Qatar Women started their innings with a positive approach, but early wickets stifled their momentum. Christeena Jacob was lively at the top, scoring 12 off 11 balls with two boundaries before being run out at 20 in the third over.
Shrutiben Rana then took charge, showcasing patience with her 39 off 44 balls, which included four boundaries and formed the backbone of Qatar’s innings. She built a vital partnership with captain Aysha, but just as they seemed to stabilise, Aysha was run out for 6, leaving Qatar at 34 for 2 in 5.3 overs.
The middle order struggled to convert their starts into significant scores. Getrude Chandiru went out for a first-ball duck, and Shahreen Bahadur managed just 12 runs off 27 balls before another run-out left Qatar at a precarious 74 for 5. Oman’s fielding pressure was evident, with four runouts contributing to Qatar’s struggles. In the lower order, wickets fell quickly, as Khadija Imtiaz, Maria Jacob, Sargam Patel, and Lihara Ayesekara all failed to make an impact.
Krisheta Sarvanakumar provided some resistance with an unbeaten 16 off 19 balls, supported by Roheed Akhtar’s 4*, but Qatar could only muster 97 for 9 in their 20 overs. Oman’s bowlers worked well as a unit, each making valuable contributions. Jayadhanyha Gunasekar led with an impressive 2 for 17, which included a run-out that capped off her standout performance. Afida Afthab picked up two crucial wickets for just 11 runs, and both Priyanka Mendonca and Amanda Dcosta chipped in with one wicket each.
In their chase of 98, Oman Women faced a shaky start as Nitya Joshi fell lbw for a duck in the first over, followed by Fiza Javed’s run-out for just 2 runs. However, Jayadhanyha Gunasekar stepped up again, guiding the team with a calm 32 off 35 balls, hitting three boundaries and effectively rotating the strike. Her partnership with skipper Priyanka Mendonca was crucial for stabilisation after the early losses.
Once Gunasekar was dismissed with the score at 85 for 3, Mendonca took control of the innings. The captain played a mature innings, scoring 37* off 44 balls, which ensured Oman remained ahead of the required rate. She found a solid partner in Cynthia SALD Saldanha, who contributed an unbeaten 6 as they led Oman to victory at 98 for 4 in 15.4 overs.
Qatar’s bowlers were disciplined but struggled to make breakthroughs. Maria Jacob was the standout with figures of 1 for 15, and Getrude Chandiru also took a wicket. Others, including Aysha, Shahreen Bahadur, and Roheed Akhtar, bowled tightly but couldn’t disrupt the vital partnerships.
Loves all things female cricket