NEW DELHI: India secured a significant 78-run victory against UAE in their second encounter of the women’s Asia Cup T20 tournament. The match featured standout performances from India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh, whose contrasting half-centuries set the stage for a formidable total.
Kaur anchored the innings with a composed 66 off 47 balls, while Ghosh provided a late onslaught, smashing an unbeaten 64 off 29 deliveries.This partnership propelled India to their first-ever T20I score surpassing the 200-run mark, closing at 201 for five.
The Indian bowlers, spearheaded by Deepti Sharma‘s economical spell of 2 for 23, complemented the batters’ efforts by restricting UAE to 123 for 7. This performance not only showcased India’s balanced attack but also edged them closer to the semifinals, with the team now leading Group A with four points and a net run rate of +3.298.
UAE’s chase was hindered by regular wickets, despite a valiant 38 off 36 balls from opener Esha Rohit Oza. The pace duo of Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar made early inroads, while spinner Tanuja Kanwar and Radha Yadav kept the pressure on, ensuring UAE never posed a serious threat to India’s total.

Earlier in the match, Kaur’s innings was marked by seven fours and a six, demonstrating her ability to find the boundary with ease. Ghosh’s aggressive batting was highlighted by 12 boundaries, including a remarkable sequence of five consecutive fours in the final over.
Their efforts were supported by Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma, who contributed with quick runs, although India did experience a minor hiccup, losing three wickets within the powerplay.
The partnership between Kaur and Rodrigues was particularly crucial, adding 54 runs and helping India surpass the 100-run mark. Following Rodrigues’ dismissal, Ghosh took charge, showcasing her skill with a series of boundaries that further accelerated the innings. Kaur’s half-century and Ghosh’s explosive finish underscored a dominant batting performance, setting a challenging target for UAE.