Women’s Asia Cup: India vs UAE – A Comprehensive Match Analysis

The women’s Asia Cup match between India and UAE, held in Dambulla, was a critical encounter for both teams. For UAE, it was a must-win game to keep their hopes alive in the tournament after an opening-day loss to Nepal. On the other hand, India, riding high on their victory over Pakistan, aimed to continue their winning streak. This article provides a detailed analysis of the match, including team strategies, key performances, and the final outcome.

Toss and Team Strategies
Toss and Decision
Esha Oza, the captain of UAE, won the toss and elected to bowl first. Her decision was based on the need to restrict India to a manageable score on what she described as a “fresh wicket.” This strategy aimed to leverage the early movement and pressure the Indian batters.

Team Line-ups
UAE:
Esha Oza (capt)
Theertha Satish (wk)
Rinitha Rajith
Samaira Dharnidharka
Kavisha Egodage
Khushi Sharma
Heena Hotchandani
Vaishnave Mahesh
Rithika Rajith
Lavanya Keny
Indhuja Nandakumar
India:
Shafali Verma
Smriti Mandhana
Dayalan Hemalatha
Harmanpreet Kaur (capt)
Jemimah Rodrigues
Richa Ghosh (wk)
Deepti Sharma
Pooja Vastrakar
Radha Yadav
Renuka Singh
Tanuja Kanwar
India made one forced change with Tanuja Kanwar replacing Shreyanka Patil, who was ruled out of the tournament with a finger injury. Kanwar’s inclusion strengthened India’s spin department, given her impressive performance in the WPL 2024.

India Innings: A Dominant Batting Display
Key Performances
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s Start
India’s innings got off to a flying start with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana taking advantage of the powerplay. Verma scored a quickfire 37 off 18 balls, including five boundaries and one six, setting the tone for a high-scoring game. Mandhana contributed with a brisk 13 off 9 balls, including one boundary and one six, before being dismissed by Kavisha Egodage.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s Anchoring Innings
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a crucial role in anchoring the innings. She scored 66 runs off 47 balls, hitting seven fours and one six. Kaur’s knock was instrumental in stabilizing the innings after early wickets and setting a strong foundation for a big total.

Richa Ghosh’s Explosive Finish
Richa Ghosh was the standout performer with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 64 off just 29 balls. Her innings included 12 boundaries and one six, propelling India to a formidable total. Ghosh’s aggressive batting in the final overs ensured that India posted a challenging target for UAE.

Summary of India’s Innings
India Women posted a total of 201/5 in their 20 overs, scoring at a rate of 10.05 runs per over. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the contributions from Verma, Kaur, and Ghosh ensured a commanding total.

Fall of Wickets
1-23 (Smriti Mandhana, 2.2 ov)
2-52 (Shafali Verma, 4.6 ov)
3-52 (Dayalan Hemalatha, 5.1 ov)
4-106 (Jemimah Rodrigues, 11.4 ov)
5-181 (Harmanpreet Kaur, 19.1 ov)
UAE Innings: Struggling Against India’s Bowling Attack
Key Performances
Esha Oza’s Resistance
Captain Esha Oza led from the front with a resilient 38 off 36 balls. Her innings included five boundaries and one six. Oza’s effort was crucial in providing some stability to the UAE innings, but she lacked substantial support from the other end.

Kavisha Egodage’s Lone Battle
Kavisha Egodage was the top scorer for UAE, remaining unbeaten on 40 off 32 balls, including three boundaries and one six. Her innings was characterized by composure and determination, but it was not enough to chase down the imposing target set by India.

Summary of UAE’s Innings
UAE Women managed to score 123/7 in their 20 overs, falling short of the target by 78 runs. The Indian bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings, with disciplined bowling and effective field placements.

Fall of Wickets
1-11 (Theertha Satish, 4.2 ov)
2-24 (Rinitha Rajith, 5.2 ov)
3-36 (Samaira Dharnidharka, 7.3 ov)
4-76 (Esha Oza, 12.3 ov)
5-95 (Khushi Sharma, 15.3 ov)
6-107 (Heena Hotchandani, 17.4 ov)
7-123 (Rithika Rajith, 19.6 ov)
Key Bowling Performances
India
Tanuja Kanwar
Tanuja Kanwar was exceptional with the ball, conceding only 14 runs in her four overs and picking up the crucial wicket of Esha Oza. Her economy rate of 3.50 was instrumental in keeping the UAE batters in check.

Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma showcased her all-round capabilities, taking 2 wickets for 23 runs in her four overs. Her variations and accuracy troubled the UAE batters, making it difficult for them to accelerate the scoring rate.

Renuka Singh
Renuka Singh provided early breakthroughs, dismissing Theertha Satish and maintaining an economy rate of 7.50. Her performance set the tone for India’s bowling dominance.

UAE
Kavisha Egodage
Despite the overall struggle, Kavisha Egodage was the most effective bowler for UAE, taking 2 wickets for 36 runs in her four overs. Her ability to break crucial partnerships was a highlight of UAE’s bowling effort.

Samaira Dharnidharka and Heena Hotchandani
Both Dharnidharka and Hotchandani managed to pick up one wicket each, with Dharnidharka conceding 42 runs and Hotchandani 40 runs in their respective four-over spells.

Player of the Match
Richa Ghosh was awarded the Player of the Match for her explosive innings of 64* off 29 balls. Her aggressive batting in the final overs was pivotal in India reaching a formidable total and ultimately securing a convincing victory.

India’s commanding performance against UAE in the women’s Asia Cup highlighted their dominance and strategic prowess. The comprehensive victory by 78 runs, built on the back of stellar performances from Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur, and the bowlers, reinforces India’s status as one of the top contenders in the tournament.

UAE, despite the loss, showed glimpses of their potential with noteworthy performances from Esha Oza and Kavisha Egodage. As they reflect on this game, UAE will aim to regroup and come back stronger in their subsequent matches.

This match not only showcased the high level of competition in women’s cricket but also highlighted the growing talent and depth in the teams participating in the Asia Cup. With more thrilling encounters expected, fans can look forward to an exciting tournament ahead.