India Targets UAE Victory to Secure Women’s Asia Cup Semifinal Spot
In addition to wanting to solidify their progress toward the women’s Asia Cup semifinals here on Sunday, dominant India will be keen to refine their strategies as they fend off the United Arab Emirates.
Protecting the winners India easily defeated Pakistan by seven wickets on Saturday, demonstrating their dominance, and it will take a massive miracle for the UAE to halt Harmanpreet Kaur’s team.
A victory over the Emirates will move India to four points, which will also have a favorable impact on their Net Run Rate (NRR). Currently, they have two points and a +2.29 NRR.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that India will focus more on itself than on its opponents during their encounter against the UAE.
The management would have been ecstatic with Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, and Pooja Vastrakar’s efforts, even though Pooja was a little pricey, during their stellar performances against Pakistan.
They will be hoping that Radha Yadav, a left-arm spinner who just made a comeback to the Indian team during the home series against South Africa, can also be added to the list of players who take wickets on Sunday.
“It was a good spell and there was some assistance from the weather as well. Of course, I could execute all the plans that I have been working on at nets,” said Renuka in the post-match press meet.
Finally, with 35 balls remaining, the Indian hitters hunted down a non-challenging target with ruthlessness.
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With 85 runs in just 9.3 overs with to openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, the team got off to a fast start; the loss of three wickets from that position was a small aberration.
India would therefore expect the middle-order hitters to put up a similar effort in the next games, beginning with the UAE.
India has a fantastic opportunity to be ready for the T20 World Cup, which will take place in Bangladesh later this year, thanks to the Asia Cup.
According to Renuka, India is using this event as a practice run for the main event at the ICC.
“The Asia Cup is important for us because after this we don’t have many matches (ahead of T20 WC) and we will have to rely on practice.
“So, this is a learning experience for us, and the conditions (in Bangladesh) could be similar. So, this is a good chance for us to get ready for the World Cup,” she said.
Nevertheless, despite losing by six wickets on Friday, India would be well to keep their attention on the current task at hand. The UAE may produce some exciting moments.
Pakistan will try to turn things around with a victory over a challenging Nepal in the second match of the day.
Teams (from):
INDIA: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, D Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan.
UAE: Esha Rohit Oza (C), Kavisha Kumari Egodage, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Lavanya Keny, Emily Thomas, Heena Harish Hotchandani, Mehak Thakur, Indhuja Nandakumar, Rinitha Rajith, Khushi Mohan Sharma, Rishitha Rajith, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Vaishnave Mahesh.
Match starts at 2 PM IST.
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