The night at Al Amerat Cricket Ground promised excitement as Bahrain Women squared off against Saudi Arabia Women in the Gulf Cricket Women’s T20I Championship 2025. The Bahrain team capitalized on the opportunity, emerging victorious in what turned out to be a one-sided match. After winning the toss, Bahrain decided to bat first, setting a robust foundation against a spirited Saudi bowling attack eager to make an early impact.
Right from the start, Bahrain’s innings displayed a sense of purpose. The opening pair of Tharanga Gajanayake and Deepika Rasangika quickly settled into a rhythm, building a solid early partnership of 53 runs. Gajanayake’s clean striking and great timing saw her score 21 runs off 20 balls, hitting some impressive boundaries that kept the scoreboard moving. Rasangika, known for her aggressive play, continued to build on this momentum until Gajanayake was dismissed by Laiba Nasrullah, marking the visitors’ first breakthrough.
With Gajanayake gone, Rasangika stepped up her game, showcasing her talent with remarkable boundaries. She carried her team forward with determination, ultimately achieving a powerful century, finishing with an impressive 107* runs off just 66 balls. Her performance was the cornerstone of Bahrain’s commanding position.
As the innings unfolded, Bahrain faced a couple of hiccups. Rasika Rodrigo was run out without facing a ball, a bit of bad luck in an otherwise smooth innings, and Poorvaja Jagdeesha added a brief contribution of five runs before being dismissed by Rumaisa Jawad Nasir. However, Bahrain’s batting depth ensured that there was no major setback. Sweeta Corda provided meaningful support toward the end, remaining unbeaten on 27 runs off 26 balls, helping the team surpass the 190-run mark. The Saudi Arabian bowlers contributed 36 extras in wides and no-balls, highlighting the pressure Bahrain exerted throughout the innings.
Saudi Arabia’s bowling unit showed determination, with Laiba Nasrullah taking the sole wicket of the top order and finishing with figures of 1/22 in her four overs. Rumaisa Jawad Nasir added to the scoreboard with 1/30, but it was a challenging night for the bowlers as Bahrain’s batters efficiently found gaps in the field. Other bowlers like Ashmal Hashmi, Mah Noor Aamir, Najwa Akram, and Sara all put in their best efforts, yet wickets proved hard to come by.
Chasing a daunting target, Saudi Arabia started with some promise. Mashael Waqas led the resistance with a determined 36 runs off 49 balls, acting as the anchor for her team. Abeer Maryam contributed a steady 21 runs, but once she was run out, the chase began to falter.
The Bahrain bowlers were ruthless in their approach. Deepika Rasangika continued to shine, achieving three crucial wickets for just 19 runs in her three overs. Sudeshika Ranawaka also made an impactful contribution, capturing 2 wickets for 16 runs in her four overs, maintaining pressure on the Saudi batters. Tharanga Gajanayake added to the wickets, dismissing Ashmal Hashmi, while Pavithra Shetty and Reshel D’Souza bowled economically, keeping the runs in check and efficiently maintaining their control.
Sweeta Corda also played her part, bowling a tidy over that showcased Bahrain’s disciplined bowling effort. As the innings progressed, Saudi Arabia lost wickets regularly and struggled to form effective partnerships. With Rumaisa Jawad Nasir and others falling cheaply, they ended their innings at a disappointing 89 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs, a total that never threatened Bahrain’s commanding batting display.
In the end, Bahrain Women secured a convincing 107-run victory, demonstrating dominance through powerful batting, strategic bowling, and a cohesive team effort in the Gulf Cricket Women’s T20I Championship. Rasangika’s century, complemented by her bowling contributions, highlighted her significance as both a batter and bowler in women’s T20 cricket.
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