Surprise tactic pays off for UAE in Women’s T20WC Qualifier

UAE v Qatar, Scorecard

In a bizarre turn of events, after accumulating 192 runs from their first 16 overs, the UAE decided to retire out their entire batting line-up under overcast conditions to save themselves time in the Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier encounter against Qatar.

The move paid off later in the game, when Esha Oza’s side bowled Qatar out for merely 29, thus securing a mammoth win and a heavy net run rate advantage.

UAE coach Ahmed Raza explained the decision to pad up all his batters and have them retired out was due to the threat of rain later in the day.

"Whilst the innings was going on we started hearing thunder and slight drizzle started," Raza said.

"I went to the umpires and checked whether we could declare but in white-ball cricket you can not declare.

"I then asked the match referee if I could retire my whole team out."

The UAE batted first and racked up quick runs on the back of inspiring performances from Oza (113 from 55 balls with 19 boundaries including five sixes) and Theertha Satish (74 off 42 with 11 fours).

However, with rain looming, UAE management - led by experieced all-rounder and coach Raza - decided at the 16-over mark that they had more than enough runs to play with.

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If this were a first-class fixture, the side might as well have declared, but given that it was a T20I encounter, UAE had no such option.

The Asian side then came up with a rare tactical decision, calling all their batters to 'pad up' and deciding to retire them out.

This meant the UAE were eligible to immediately have a go at the Qatar with the ball, and bowled out the side within the 12th over mark to secure a remarkable win by 163 runs.

"With the thunder and drizzle we just had to make sure the whole game was played because the weather has been around," Raza continued.

"At the start of our bowling innings it was already drizzling and we were scared of the thunderstorm. There was not enough time. It was all done purely to get a result.

"By doing this I meant no disrespect to anyone involved, our opposition. Everything that happened was within the laws and was well communicated with the match referee.

"This extraordinary series of events should not overshadow our captain's hundred and our opening stand of 192 and our bowlers doing the remaining job."

The victory was UAE's second on the trot at the Asia Qualifier event and puts them in the box seat to progress to the Super Three stage of the event.

The three winners from the group stage of the tournament progress to the Super Three phase, with the top two teams then progressing to the Global Qualifier at the start of next year.