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India registered another big win in the ongoing Women's Asia Cup 2022. Smriti Mandhana captained the Indian team in the absence of rested Harmanpreet Kaur. The Chaya Mughal-led United Arab Emirates (UAE) failed to put up a fight for a better part of the game and suffered a massive 104-run loss at Sylhet Outer Cricket Stadium on October 4.
After winning the toss, Mandhana opted to bat first. She did not come to open against the minnows and promoted Richa Ghosh up the order in the absence of rested Shafali Verma, who scored 46 in the previous game. Ghosh could not cash in on the opportunity and got out for a golden duck to Mughal in the first over. The half-centurion of the previous game, Sabbhineni Meghana did not stay long at the crease and lost her wicket to Mahika Gaur in the fourth over. India lost another wicket in the powerplay overs in the form of Dayalan Hemalatha who got run out. India were reduced to 19/3 in the fifth over and needed a partnership to recover from the early collapse.
Deepti Sharma got a promotion up the order and came to bat at no.3. Jemimah Rodrigues joined her in the middle after Hemalatha's wicket. After the powerplay overs, Rodrigues hit Mughal for a hat-trick of fours. As Deepti and Jemimah tried to rebuild the innings, India were 65/3 at the halfway stage. In the 12th over, Deepti hit the first six of the innings. The southpaw got to his half-century with a six as well in the 15th over. Three balls later, Rodrigues got to his half-century from 33 deliveries.
In the 18th over, Deepti got dismissed by Saraksha Kotte. The southpaw scored 64 runs from 49 deliveries. Her knock was studded with five fours and two sixes. The two batters shared a 129-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Pooja Vastrakar contributed with a six and a four during her short stay at the crease. In the final over, Kiran Navgire hit two boundaries as well. On the other end, Rodrigues remained not out for 75 off 45 deliveries including 11 fours. India posted 178/5 in 20 overs, thanks to the record-breaking partnership.
The UAE openers did not seem up to the task. Theertha Satish got run out in the first over itself whereas Rajeshwari Gayakwad got rid of Esha Rohit Oza (4) off the second ball she bowled. Natasha Cherriath struggled against the left-arm spinner as well and got out a three-ball duck in the same over. In just 11 deliveries, UAE were reduced to 5/3.
Kavisha Egodage and Khushi Sharma tried to stabilise the innings but they were nowhere close to keeping up with the required run rate. The most runs scored in an over in the innings were two boundaries that came off Khushi's bat in the fourth over. After a while, it became a dull affair as the two batters aimed to play out the 20 overs.
Hemalatha was finally able to break the partnership in the 18th over. The UAE duo scored 48 runs for the fourth wicket from 94 deliveries. Khushi scored 29 runs from 50 deliveries including three boundaries. In the end, UAE could manage to post 74/4 on the board. Kavisha remained unbeaten for 30 runs from 54 deliveries including three boundaries. On the other end, the no.6 batter Chaya scored six runs in the slog overs.
After the massive win, India are now at the top of the points table with three consecutive wins and a net run rate of +3.860.
