Unbeaten UAE qualify for T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers with five wins

Chamani Seneviratne and Samaira Dharnidharka led from the front as UAE made it five from five in T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in Dubai on Sunday (November 28) to march towards the Global Qualifiers. Meanwhile, Malaysia beat Bhutan by 11 runs and Hong Kong defended the total against Kuwait to win their respective clashes.



UAE were invited to bat first by Nepal and they lost the opener Esha Oza for four in the very first over. Theertha Satish and Kavisha Egodage added 58 runs for the second wicket. Once Egodage was dismissed by Sangita Rai, Seneviratne joined Satish and the pair took the home side beyond the 100-run mark. Seneviratne brought up her half century from 34 balls and UAE finished their innings on 127 for five.



In reply, Nepal lost two early wickets in the power play as Indu Barma became the first victim of Dharnidharka. Once Kabita Kunwar was dismissed by Khushi Sharma for four, Nepal could not form a meaningful partnership and they were skittled for 79 runs. Dharnidharka took four wickets while conceding only five runs and led the hosts to a 48-run win.



At the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai, Malaysia opted to bat first against Bhutan and collapsed in the power play as they lost five wickets for just 18 runs. Ainna Hamizah Hashim and Nur Arianna Natsya revived the Malaysian innings with a partnership of 37 runs. Nik Nur Atiela added vital 11 runs in the death overs as Malaysia finished on 87 for eight from their 20 overs.



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Bhutan got a perfect start as the opening pair of Dechen Wangmo and Ngawang Choden scored 34 runs in the first seven overs. After Choden was dismissed by in form Mas Elysa for 22, none of the other players contribute as the helpless Wangmo watched from the other end. Bhutan lost seven wickets for 21 runs and they were bowled out for 76 giving Malaysia r1 11-run win.



Mariko Hill’s half-century in the first innings led the way for Hong Kong in their final match against Kuwait. Hill was supported by Natasha Miles, who scored 40 off just 35 balls and captain Kary Chan’s cameo led Hong Kong to 155 for three in 20 overs.



Chan continued her form and sent back Priyada Murali for a duck in the chase. Captain Amna Tariq and Siobhan Gomez put up a fight and put on a partnership of 55 runs to give Kuwait some hope. Khadija Khalil continued that fightback with 22 off 21 but it was not enough for the win as they fell short by 35 runs.



Brief Scores:



UAE: 127/5 in 20 overs (Chamani Seneviratne 52, Theertha Satish 47; Kabita Kunwar 2/21) beat Nepal 79 all out in 19.4 overs (Indu Barma 15, Sita Rana Magar 13; Samaira Dharnidharka 4/5) by 48 runs



Malaysia 87/8 in 20 overs (Nur Arianna Natsya 19, Ainna Hamizah Hashim 18; Anju Gurung 2/12) beat Bhutan 76 all out in 19 overs (Dechen Wangmo 35, Ngawang Choden 22; Mahirah Izzati Ismail 3/8) by 11 runs



Hong Kong 155/3 in 20 overs (Mariko Hill 55, Natasha Miles 40; Maria Jasvi 1/30) beat Kuwait 120/4 in 20 overs (Siobhan Gomez 36, Amna Tariq 32; Mariko Hill 1/20) by 35 runs