Women’s Asia Cup: Harman, Richa fire India past UAE

Dambulla, July 21

Contrasting fifties from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh were complemented nicely by the bowlers as India notched up a massive 78-run win over UAE in their second match of the ongoing women’s Asia Cup T20 tournament here today.

Invited to bat, Harmanpreet played the anchor’s role to perfection with a 47-ball 66, while Ghosh produced a late charge with an unbeaten 29-ball 64 to power defending champions India to 201/5, their first-ever 200-plus score in T20Is. The bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma (2/23), then produced a clinical show to limit UAE to 123/7 as India put one foot in the semifinals.

With two wins in as many games, India occupy the top spot in Group A with four points and have a net run rate of 3.298. India will play their final group game against Nepal on Tuesday.

Chasing the daunting total, opener Esha Rohit Oza scored a 36-ball 38 but UAE kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Earlier, while the 35-year-old Harmanpreet blasted seven fours and a six during her innings, Ghosh slammed as many as 12 boundaries and a maximum, including five consecutive hits to the fence in the final over of the innings. Harmanpreet stitched two crucial partnerships, adding 54 off 39 balls with Jemimah Rodrigues and 75 off 45 balls with Ghosh, who reached her fifty in just 26 balls. Opener Shafali Verma hit five fours and a six en route an 18-ball 37. “It was a great feeling especially when Jemi (Rodrigues) and I were batting. We were looking to run hard rather than playing risky shots. When Richa came I told her to keep watching the ball and she batted beautifully,” said Harmanpreet.

Brief scores: India: 201/5 (Harmanpreet 66, Ghosh 64*; Egodage 2/36); UAE: 123/7 (Egodage 40, Oza 36; Deepti 2/23, Tanuja 1/14)

Pakistan hammer Nepal

Gull Feroza’s belligerent fifty helped Pakistan beat Nepal by nine wickets and stay in contention for a semifinal berth. Feroza (57 off 35 balls) was helped by Muneeba Ali (46 not out off 34 balls) as Pakistan raced past the target of 109 in just 11.5 overs. They added 105 runs for the opening wicket.