Cricket: India beat UAE in Women’s Asia Cup by 78 runs; Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh highest scorers

Women's Asia Cup: The Indian team continued their winning streak in the Women's Asia Cup 2024 with a 78-run win over UAE in their Group A match at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka's Dambulla on Sunday.

After batting first, India put up a total of 201/5 in 20 overs. Opener Smriti Mandhana was the first to get out. When she was dismissed by Kavisha Egodage for 13 off 9 balls, India were 23/1.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was India's highest scorer. She scored 66 off 47 balls before getting run out. She looked in complete control as she blasted seven fours and a six during her inning. Wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh remained unbeaten at 64 off 29 balls. She knocked 12 boundaries and five consecutive hits to the fence in the final over of the innings. She was declared the player of the match.

The UAE managed to get 121/6 in 20 overs and lost the match by 80 runs. India bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma (2/23), stopped UAE at 123 for 7.

Earlier, the UAE skipper Esha Rohit Oza won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in the fifth match of the Women's Asia Cup 2024 at Dambulla Stadium.

Team India opener Smriti Mandhana smashed a six and a four to give the Indian side a good start, however she got out at mid-off off Kavisha Egodage in the third over.

Shafali Verma (37 off 18 balls) produced some sensational shots, but she played an edging short and wide ball from seamer Dharnidharka Samaira and the keeper sent her to the pavilion.

Skipper Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues joined hands and kept the scoreboard ticking. India across the 100-mark in the 11th over.

The Indian skipper produced two crucial partnerships, adding 54 off 39 balls with Rodrigues and 75 off 45 balls with Ghosh to put India in a commanding position.

For UAE, Kavisha Egodage picked up two wickets (2/36).

Brief scores: India: 201/5 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 66, Richa Ghosh 64 not out, Shafali Verma 37; Kavisha Egodage 2/36).

UAE: 123/7 in 20 overs (Kavisha Egodage 40 not out Esha Oza 38; Deepti Sharma (2/23)

India Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Tanuja Kanwer, Radha Yadav, Dayalan Hemalatha, Renuka Thakur Singh, Richa Ghosh.

UAE Squad: Esha Rohit Oza(c), Theertha Satish(w), Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Khushi Sharma, Heena Hotchandani, Vaishnave Mahesh, Rithika Rajith, Lavanya Keny, Indhuja Nandakumar.

(This is a developing story. Check back for more details.)