Heena Hotchandani’s four-wicket haul takes UAE into the ACC Women’s Premier Cup Final
UAE led by skipper Esha Oza stayed unbeaten throughout the league stages and as a result, finished on top of the points table in Group B with 6 points from 3 games. Thailand on the other hand, led by skipper Naroemol Chaiwai finished on top of the points table in Group A with 6 points from 3 games in the league stages.
The two best teams UAE and Thailand from league stages were all set to face off against each other in the 1st semi-final. UAE skipper Esha Oza won the toss and opted to bat first in the 1st Semi-final against Thailand. UAE got off to a cautious start scoring at under 3 runs an over before Kavisha Egodage was found short of her crease to provide the 1st breakthrough for Thailand.
UAE suffered a mini collapse as they lost their next three wickets for just 11 runs. Samaira Dharnidharka joined Heena Hotchandani at the crease and the duo stitched a crucial 21-run partnership for the 5th wicket before Chanida Sutthiruang cleaned up Samaira Dharnidharka to provide the 5th breakthrough for Thailand. UAE eventually ended up with a total of 70/7 in their quota of overs.
Kavisha Egodage (21 off 41 balls), skipper Esha Oza (14 off 34 balls), and Samaira Dharnidharka (13 off 20 balls) were the top performers with the bat for UAE. Thipatcha Putthawong (4-1-12-2), Aphisara Suwanchonrathi (3-0-14-2), and Chanida Sutthiruang (4-0-12-1) were the top performers with the ball for Thailand.
Chasing a target of 71, Thailand got off to a horrible start losing half of their side for just 15 runs in the 8th over of the run chase. Thipatcha Putthawong joined Suwanan Khiaoto at the crease and stitched a crucial 35-run partnership for the 6th wicket to bring Thailand back into the run chase. However, they failed to capitalize on the partnership and take their side over the line as they suffered another collapse, losing their next five wickets for just 16 runs, and as a result, they were bundled out for 66 with four balls to spare. They fell just four runs short of the target.
Thipatcha Putthawong (21 off 27 balls) and Suwanan Khiaoto (12 off 21 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Thailand. Heena Hotchandani (4-0-8-4), Vaishnave Mahesh (4-0-22-3), and Surakhsha Kotte (4-0-5-1) were the top performers with the ball for UAE. Heena Hotchandani’s exceptional performance (4-0-8-4) with the ball was awarded the Player of the Match, playing a crucial role in helping UAE book a place in the final of the ACC Women’s Premier Cup final.