Gulf Cup, in its 20 years recorded a historic first. The first time since the tournament has been being played a female cricketer has scored a hundred against the boys’ team. As a development plan by the UAE for women’s games in the country, the male and female players are regularly made to play each other.
This tournament has participants who are well-known international names like Ben Stokes, who played in the 2005 Gulf Cup as part of a touring Durham Academy side when he was 14 years old, and other England players like Mark Wood and Scott Borthwick among others.
In this prestigious tournament, Kavisha Kumari scored the first-ever ton by a female against males in the competition’s history. This record was broken by Kavisha Kumari who is an 18-year-old allrounder and a regular opener for the UAE women team. Her century aided in a 154-run win in a 30-over match against Young Talents Cricket Academy’s Under 15s side in Ajman.
After the match she said:
“I could tell within the first two balls it was coming onto the bat nicely and I was connecting with it well,”
“At that point, it was just a case of carrying on and playing each ball on its merit. It was my first century against boys and my second century overall.
“In 2019 I scored a T20 century against girls. I have been close a number of times to getting a second one after that 2019 century, and finally getting it against the boys was amazing – I don’t have words to describe it.”
She also said she was concerned it might not have enough deliveries to reach the landmark because it had occurred before.
“I was more focused on scoring runs, but there was a little nervousness in the 90s because the overs were running out,” Kumari said.
“There was a fear that I might not make it, especially as I have been stranded in the 90s a few times before against the boys. I have made 90, 97, 93, all not out in the past.
However, all her nervousness was put aside when she reached the three figures mark with a classic cover drive.
Kavisha Kumari made 106 from 89 balls hitting 12 fours as the UAE women’s team made 259-3 in 30 overs. Their opponents were bowled out for a mere 105, with Khushi Sharma picking up 5-21.
Story Credits: Paul Radley / The National News
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