Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh’s spectacular performance on Sunday, July 21, propelled India into the semi-finals of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 with a decisive 78-run victory over the UAE.
India amassed 201 runs in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Harmanpreet and Richa, while the UAE faltered in their pursuit, hindered by the consistent discipline of the Indian bowlers.
This marked the first occasion India crossed the 200-run threshold in a T20 International. Richa became the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to hit a fifty in the Women’s Asia Cup. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also excelled, emerging as the top scorer with 66 runs.
After winning the toss, the UAE opted to field. India commenced robustly with openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. Despite Mandhana’s swift departure, Shafali maintained an assertive stance, contributing 37 runs from just 18 balls, propelling India to 52 runs within the initial 5 overs before her dismissal. India encountered a setback when Hemalatha was bowled by Hotchandani, but Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues steadied the innings, with Kaur leading the scoring effort.
The duo put on 54 runs before Jemimah’s exit with more than 8 overs to go. Richa Ghosh then entered and changed the game’s dynamics. She began cautiously with singles but quickly hit her stride, notching a boundary followed by a six in the 15th over. The 16th over featured her striking four boundaries off UAE captain Esha Oza.
Ghosh and Kaur efficiently rotated the strike, swiftly notching a 50-run partnership. Although reaching 200 runs seemed improbable when Kaur faltered in the 19th over, she rallied to end the over with two boundaries and a six. A mix-up in the final over led to Kaur’s run-out, but Ghosh made amends by blasting the last five balls to the boundary, remaining not out on 64 from 29 balls, including 12 fours and a six.
India wrapped up their innings at 201 for 5 after 20 overs, setting a new benchmark for themselves in the format.
