Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024: Richa Ghosh headlines India's huge win

India have almost secured a spot in the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup 2024 with a thumping win over UAE. This time, it was the middle order that helped India secure a solid total of 201 runs, which was also the team's first-ever score of 200 or more runs in T20Is.

UAE won the toss and sent India out to bat first. India made one change to their playing eleven as left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwer was awarded her maiden international cap. She replaced Shreyanka Patil who fractured the fourth finger of her left hand.

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma played aggressively from the get-go, registering 23 runs in the first two overs. However, Mandhana's innings came to an end early as young Kavisha Egodage dismissed the in-form batter for 13 runs. Shafali continued to take charge of the UAE bowling attack, until she followed her opening partner's way back to the pavilion. Her quickfire 37 runs off 18 balls laid the foundation for the middle order.

Dayalan Hemalatha's failed to make a mark against Pakistan, and her poor form continued in this game as well. She got dismissed for two runs right after Shafali's wicket. A lot lied on the shoulders of captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues to take India's score to the next level. The captain did what was expected of her, while Rodrigues struggled and departed for 14 runs. 

Richa Ghosh came out to bat at number six and instantly went on a rampage mode. Harmanpreet reached the half-century mark for the 12th time in T20I cricket and for the 11th time as a skipper. In the first ball of the final over, she got involved in a mix-up with Ghosh and was run out for 66 runs. 

The Indian wicketkeeper also reached her maiden T20I fifty, and that too in style. She ended the final over of the innings with five consecutive boundaries. India finished with the score of 201 for 5.

UAE were off to a shaky start with incessant dominance of the Indian bowling unit. Pooja Vastrakar gave no runs in the fourth over, putting further pressure on Esha Oza's side. Team India reaped the reward for their economical bowling and got Theertha Satish in the fifth over, thanks to Renuka Singh Thakur. 

Vastrakar also got the wicket she was owed, dismissing Rinitha Rajith for seven runs. Meanwhile, Oza looked in a good shape and gave a good account of herself. Deepti Sharma was the next bowler to strike for India, sending Samaira Dharnidharka back to the dressing room. 

Kanwer got the taste of an international wicket on her debut by getting the better of the Emirati skipper, who played a solid innings of 38 runs. Radha Yadav, who didn't pick up any wicket in the first game against Pakistan, claimed one on Sunday. She got rid of Khushi Sharma as UAE only had five wickets in hand.

Heena Hotchandani fell victim to Deepti who picked up her second. Kavisha Egodage, who contributed with the ball by picking up two wickets, played a respectable 40-run knock, despite UAE falling short by 78 runs. 

UAE, however, still have a chance to qualify for the semifinals. Pakistian will have to beat Nepal later in the evening to keep their chances alive.

Brief scores: India 201/5 (Harmanpreet Kaur 66, Richa Ghosh 64*; Kavisha Egodage 2/36) beat UAE 123/7 (Kavisha Egodage 40, Esha Oza 38; Deepti Sharma 2/23, Tanuja Kanwer 3.50) by 78 runs. POTM: Richa Ghosh.