United Arab Emirates Women secured a crucial 15-run victory against Namibia Women in the 4th Match of the Namibia Women’s T20I Tri-Series 2024 at the Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek. A stellar all-round performance from Esha Oza, who scored 42 runs and picked up 3 wickets, guided UAE to their first win in the series.
After losing the toss and being put into bat, UAE started strongly, powered by an impressive opening partnership between Esha Oza and Theertha Satish. Satish played an aggressive knock, smashing 41 runs off 25 balls, while Oza anchored the innings with a well-composed 42 off 40 deliveries. Despite their efforts, Namibia fought back with regular wickets, particularly through the brilliant spell of Jurriene Diergaardt, who claimed 4/15 in her 4 overs. UAE was eventually restricted to 141/10 in 20 overs.
In response, Namibia struggled to find momentum in their chase, losing captain Sune Wittmann early for 17. Wilka Mwatile tried to hold the innings together with a composed 31 off 38 balls, while Edelle van Zyl contributed a handy 23 off 18 balls. However, Oza’s all-round brilliance came to the fore as she not only led the UAE with the bat but also picked up 3 wickets for 29 runs. Namibia ultimately fell short, managing 126/7 in 20 overs, giving UAE a hard-fought victory by 15 runs.
Key Highlights & Records:
- Esha Oza was the standout performer for UAE, scoring a vital 42 off 40 and delivering a match-winning spell of 3/29 in 4 overs, earning her the Player of the Match award.
- Theertha Satish contributed with a blazing 41 off 25 balls, setting up a solid foundation for UAE’s total.
- Jurriene Diergaardt was Namibia’s top bowler, taking 4 wickets for just 15 runs, keeping her team in the contest with a brilliant bowling display.
- This match saw the highest aggregate (267 runs) in a T20I involving both UAE and Namibia Women, highlighting the intense competition.
- Vaishnave Mahesh of UAE broke the record for most ducks (7) in Women’s T20Is for her team, surpassing Khushi Sharma’s previous record of 6.
Brief Scores:
UAE Women: 141 all out in 20 overs (Esha Oza 42, Theertha Satish 41; Jurriene Diergaardt 4/15, Saima Tuhadeleni 3/36)
Namibia Women: 126/7 in 20 overs (Wilka Mwatile 31, Edelle van Zyl 23; Esha Oza 3/29, Vaishnave Mahesh 2/18)
Result: UAE Women won by 15 runs.
Player of the Match: Esha Oza – 42 (40) & 3/29
This win puts UAE Women in a strong position in the tri-series, with their confidence bolstered by this dominant all-round display.
