Match No. 2 of the Abu Dhabi Women’s T20 Counties Super Cup promises to be an even clash as Essex takes on ECB in their respective inaugural encounters. With both teams eager to make a positive start in the tournament, the clash at the Tolerance Oval is set to showcase top-tier talent and intense competitive cricket.
Essex will be banking on their all-round strength, while ECB, known for its depth and experience, will aim to assert dominance early on. As the action unfolds in Abu Dhabi, fans can expect a thrilling contest filled with power-hitting, strategic bowling, and intense rivalries.
Squads:
Essex Women
Alice MacLeod, Cordelia Griffith, Flo Miller, Jo Gardner, Kate Coppack, Kelly Castle, Riva Pindoria, Amara Carr, Ariana Dowse, Abtaha Maqsood, Esmae McGregor, Eva Gray, Grace Melhuish, Madeleine Blinkhorn-Jones, Sophia Smale, Sophie Munro
ECB Women
Keziah Miriam Sabin, Rinitha Rajith, Udeni Dona, Esha Oza, Lavanya Keny, Michelle Botha, Samaira Dharnidharka, Emily Thomas, Theertha Satish, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Suraksha Kotte, Thilini Shashikala, Vaishnave Mahesh
Players to watch out:
Abtaha Maqsood
Scotland’s Abtaha Maqsood will be a vital spin threat for Essex in the Abu Dhabi Women’s T20 Counties Super Cup. The gifted leg-break bowler, who debuted in T20I cricket back in 2018, boasts a fine record of 54 wickets at 56 innings with a phenomenal economy rate of 5.49 and an average of 12.89. With best returns of 3/8 and strike rate of 19.2, Maqsood’s ability to tighten the screws and strike under pressure makes her an invaluable player. Having had experience in The Hundred as well with Birmingham Phoenix, she lends quality and poise to the bowling attack of her team.
Sophia Smale
Sophia Smale, a promising 20-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner, will provide balance to Essex’s bowling attack during the tournament. Yet to receive her international cap, she has already impressed in the U-19s and gained experience from The Hundred for Oval Invincibles. With 22 wickets at 23 matches in T20s, an economy rate of 6.85, and best bowling figures of 2/12, Smale’s control and regularity make her a must-watch player. Her capacity for creating pressure and disrupting partnerships will be instrumental to Essex in their ventures.
Esha Oza
Esha Oza, a forceful batting all-rounder and one of the UAE national team’s shining stars, will be one to keep an eye on during the Abu Dhabi Women’s T20 Counties Super Cup. An aggressive run-scorer, she has registered 2,347 runs from 86 innings, her highest score being 158*, at a strike rate of 111.44. Appending to her all-round expertise, Oza is a useful right-arm off-break bowler, with 64 wickets from 70 innings at the best figures of 3/0, with an economy of 4.96 and a bowling average of 15.76. Her capability to score runs with the bat as well as picking up wickets with the ball makes her a game-changer in any competition.
Vaishnave Mahesh
Vaishnave Mahesh, 18-year-old leg-break bowler from Chennai, has become a rising star in no time for the United Arab Emirates. She has taken 90 wickets in 72 innings with her best figures reading 4/10 and possesses a great economy of 4.97. Her meteoric international career saw her becoming the sixth-youngest player to have played a Women’s T20 International. Being a young sensation with an eye for game-changing moments, Mahesh will be an important asset for ECB Women.
Pitch:
The Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi, alternatively referred to as Sheikh Zayed Stadium Nursery 1 or Nursery Oval 1, is famous for high-scoring matches, with a first innings average of 155 and a 2nd innings average of 263. The bowlers must be consistent in lengths, or else the batters can easily hit the ball to all corners of the stadium.
Weather:
There are negligible chances of rain playing spoilsport in Abu Dhabi with the temperature expected to be around 27 degrees Celsius, winds blowing at 18 km/hr and humidity at 59%.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Theertha Satish, Cordelia Griffith, Alice MacLeod, Lavanya Keny, Kavisha Egodage, Esha Oza, Sophia Smale, Jo Gardner, Vaishnave Mahesh, Heena Hotchandani, Abtaha Maqsood
Match details:
Date – March 28, 2025
Time – 4:00 PM IST
Venue – Tolerance Oval
Broadcast – The game will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India.
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