UAE hopes go up in smoke after second loss

dubai — The UAE’s hopes of reaching the Women’s World T20 went up in smoke after they were battered by Asia Cup champions Bangladesh on Tuesday.

The UAE suffered their second successive defeat, an eight-wicket mauling at the hands of Bangladesh in Group A of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier in Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The loss meant that the UAE are out of contention for a semifinal spot and with it the chance to make it to the Women’s World T20 to be held in the West Indies from November 9 to 24.

It was a pathetic display from the UAE, who had no answer to leg spinner Fahima Khatun. The 25-year-old scythed through the UAE batting line-up to return with career-best figures of 4-8, including a hat trick.

The UAE had gone at snail’s pace after being put into bat and were 26 for one in 10 overs. They then suffered a horrendous collapse, losing six wickets for no run to slump from 33 for 2 to 33 for 8. Fellow leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed played a hand too, taking two for four, while left-arm spinner picking two for two.

Only opener Esha Oza went into double figures, making a painstaking 18 from 35 balls with a boundary before becoming Khatun’s second victim of the day.

The UAE, who had stunned The Netherlands in their opening game and had then lost to Papua New Guinea, had needed a win against Bangladesh and hope that Papua New Guinea lose to The Netherlands, to make it to the semifinals. But the equations were to go out of the window.

The UAE were bundled out for a paltry 39 in 16.2 overs and Bangladesh knocked off the runs with 79 balls remaining.

This was the UAE’s first appearance at this level after having finished runners-up behind Thailand in the Asian region of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifying Series 2017.

james@khaleejtimes.com