The United Arab Emirates Women’s cricket team showcased a remarkable performance, overpowering Saudi Arabia Women’s in a one-sided encounter that underlined the increasing strength and confidence in UAE women’s cricket. Right from the outset, the match had a clear narrative: UAE’s batters set a fearless tone for the innings, quickly followed by their bowlers, who systematically dismantled the Saudi batting line-up.
Despite losing an early wicket, the UAE began their batting with intent. Al Maseera was dismissed for just 4 runs, giving Saudi Arabia a brief glimmer of hope with Mah Noor Amir claiming the crucial early wicket. However, this only opened the door for skipper Esha Oza, who took control of the innings with an impressive blend of aggression and finesse. She scored a stunning 64 runs off just 35 balls, hitting nine boundaries and keeping the run rate soaring. With solid support from Samaira Dharnidharka, the two formed a vital partnership that significantly shifted the momentum in favour of the UAE. They skillfully rotated the strike and punished loose deliveries, comfortably surpassing the 100-run mark.
After Oza’s dismissal at 122/2 in the 10th over, the UAE innings entered an even more explosive phase. Samaira Dharnidharka took charge, showing her power-hitting capabilities. She finished with an outstanding 85 not out off 52 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, ensuring the momentum never faltered. Keziah Miriam Sabin also made a strong contribution with 54 runs off 31 balls, with eight fours and a six. Their unbeaten partnership really demoralised the Saudi bowling attack, making it look easy as they continually found gaps and cleared the ropes. The extras, including 44 runs from wides, byes, leg-byes, and no-balls, only added to Saudi Arabia’s struggles.
Saudi Arabia’s bowlers faced a tough time throughout the innings, with both Mah Noor Amir and Najwa Akram taking one wicket each but conceding 44 runs in their four overs. Ashmal Hashmi, Laiba Nasrullah, and Simrah Mirza were unable to take a wicket, and their economy rates reflected the pressure from the aggressive UAE batting lineup. Ultimately, UAE finished with an imposing total of 251 for 2 in 20 overs.
The chase for Saudi Arabia never gained momentum. UAE’s bowlers were on point, with Athige Silva leading the charge by tearing through the top order. She finished with remarkable figures of 4 wickets for just 6 runs in 4 overs, putting Saudi Arabia under immense pressure. Esha Oza also excelled with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 6 runs in 4 overs to complement her earlier batting performance. Al Maseera and Mehak Thakur chipped in with important breakthroughs, ensuring Saudi Arabia never settled.
Wickets tumbled at regular intervals for Saudi Arabia. Key players like Nimra Ghazanfar, Fatima Abbas, and Abeer Maryam were dismissed cheaply, and skipper Mashael Waqas managed just 2 runs before falling quickly. Although Simrah Mirza and Ashmal Hashmi showed some resistance, it wasn’t enough to alter the match’s outcome. The fall of wickets continued unabated, and Saudi Arabia was bowled out for just 13 runs in 9.4 overs, highlighting the UAE’s dominance throughout the game.
Overall, it was a masterclass performance by the United Arab Emirates Women, combining explosive batting, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding. For Saudi Arabian women, it was a challenging learning experience, while the UAE team moved forward with renewed confidence, sending a strong message in this tournament, beating Saudi Arabia by a massive 238 runs.
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