It was a bright and clear morning at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, setting the stage for an exciting second match of the Gulf Cricket Women’s T20I Championship 2025, where Oman Women faced off against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Women. Winning the toss, Oman elected to bat first, hoping to set a challenging total against a formidable UAE bowling lineup.
From the beginning, Oman struggled to find their rhythm. Their opening batter, Jayadhanyha Gunasekar, fell early for just 2 runs, putting pressure on the team right away. The following dismissal of Nitya Joshi, who managed only 11, added to Oman’s woes as the UAE bowlers seized the initiative with some good early breakthroughs. Partnerships were fleeting, and the early strikes from Esha Oza and Samaira Dharnidharka kept Oman’s top order in check.
Oman’s innings never really found its footing. Only a handful of players made decent contributions, with captain Priyanka Mendonca scoring a cautious 7 and Sameera Khan showing some spirit with her 12 runs. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t string together any meaningful partnerships, consistently losing wickets before any batter could settle in. Even supporting players like Afida Afthab and Alifiya Sayed could only add 3 and 1 runs, respectively.
Extras added a little more to Oman’s total, with wides, byes, and leg byes accounting for 15 runs. In the end, Oman was bowled out for a mere 63 in just 19.1 overs, falling far short of a competitive total for a T20 match.
On the bowling front, the UAE bowlers demonstrated impressive discipline and controlled aggression. Esha Oza emerged as the standout performer, claiming 3 wickets for just 6 runs in her full four-over spell, applying constant pressure. S Dharnidharka also made her mark with an early wicket and finished with figures of 1/3.
Vaishnave Mahesh was effective as well, taking 2/12 and stepping up at crucial moments. Katie Thompson took a wicket while maintaining a tight economy, and Al Maseera Jahangir contributed neatly with 1/1 from her short spell. Collectively, the UAE bowlers executed their plans beautifully, keeping Oman’s run rate under control throughout the innings.
Chasing a modest target of 64 runs, the UAE Women started confidently. Their opening pair, captain Esha Oza and wicketkeeper Theertha Satish, approached the chase with poise, blending patience with occasional aggression. The focus was to deliver a top-notch performance against a spirited Omani bowling attack, despite the small target.
The partnership grew steadily, with both batters consistently keeping the scoreboard ticking. Satish played sensibly, finishing with 20 not out off 16 balls, including a couple of well-timed boundaries. Meanwhile, Oza was in formidable form, ending her innings unbeaten on 43 from just 18 balls, showcasing her powerful hitting with eight fours as she led the team to victory in just 5.4 overs.
Oman’s bowlers put in the effort to halt the chase, with Priyanka Mendonca keeping her lines tidy, conceding 15 runs in two overs. However, even with varying spells from Alifiya Sayed, Jayadhanyha Gunasekar, Amanda Dcosta, and Sameera Khan, the UAE batters remained composed and ultimately chased down the target without losing a wicket.
The UAE Women’s impressive win, with 10 wickets in hand and 86 balls to spare, underscored their dominance in both batting and bowling. Esha Oza’s all-round performance earned her the Player of the Match title, solidifying the UAE Women’s cricket strength in this Gulf Cricket Women’s T20I Championship clash.
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