Esha Oza’s 29-ball 30 to follow up on an all-round bowling display helped the United Arab Emirates register a comfortable 6-wicket win over Indonesia, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on Friday.
Put in to bat, Indonesia had a troubled start, with Suraksha Kotte striking twice off the first two deliveries of the game. Skipper Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini was the lone batter to offer some resistance to UAE’s attack, which kept chipping in with wickets at regular intervals. Kotte struck thrice, while Oza, Heena Hotchandani and Vaishnave Mahesh bagged a brace each.
Barring a 32-run alliance between Sakarini and Desi Wulandari, there wasn’t much of a fight put up by the Indonesian batters. Once Sakarini departed on 39 in the last ball of the 16th over, the rest of the line-up also collapsed. Wulandri, who scored 10 off 28 balls, was the only other batter to post a double-digit score.
Nonetheless, Indonesia, playing their maiden Asia Cup, did manage to stretch their innings till the last over and post a respectable 71.
It was expected to be an easy cruise for UAE. And Oza ensured the hosts looked comfortable till she departed in the 11th over. Oza stroked five boundaries in her innings. But once she was cleaned up Ni Kadek Ariani, Indonesia pinched a couple of more wickets in quick succession, including Rinitha Rajith, who had joined Oza in a 45-run alliance for the second wicket.
However, Samaira Dharnidharka and Lavanya Keny helped UAE go past the finish line with 41 balls to spare.
Brief Scores: Indonesia 71 in 19.4 overs (Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini 39; Suraksha Kotte 3-16, Heena Hotchandani 2-6) lost to United Arab Emirates 75/4 in 13.1 overs (Esha Oza 30, Rinitha Rajith 22; Sofia Velic 2-25) by 6 wickets