The UAE may have lost one of their finest prospects to England in recent days, but they continue to progress at pace in the women’s game after sealing qualification for the global T20 World Cup Qualifier.
Esha Oza struck 85 then took the winning wicket as the national team overpowered Hong Kong in the semi-final of Asia qualifying in Kuala Lumpur.
They will play Thailand in the final on Saturday in the knowledge that both sides have secured their place in the next phase of qualifying. “We have been working hard for the past weeks and months and finally we are there,” said Oza, who was given the player-of-the-match award after the 57-run win. “We have been getting better in each and every game because we have been playing tougher opposition as we have gone forward, and I think as a team we played our best game today. “We clicked as a team and that has helped us go to the next level.” The competition in Malaysia has coincided with Mahika Gaur, the former UAE fast bowler, playing her debut series for England.
Although she is now no longer available to the country where she learnt her cricket, the UAE’s excellence in Kuala Lumpur shows that there is still an enviable amount of talent emerging in the women’s game in the Emirates.