MUSCAT: Oman recorded a comprehensive 96-run victory over Bahrain in the first match of the GCC Women’s T20I Championship Cup at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground on Sunday. Coming out to bat after losing the toss, Oman kick-started proceedings in an assured manner. The opening pair of Sakshi Vijaya Shetty and Fiza Javed stitched together a 56-run partnership in the powerplay. The former top-scored for the home side with a brilliant 30-ball 39. Fiza chipped in with 18 runs of her own. However, Bahrain struck back in the 7th over. Tharanga Gajanayake stepped up for the visitors to provide 2 crucial breakthroughs in back-to-back overs. Sakshi was dismissed soon after too, but player of the match Priyanka Mendonca ensured that no further damage was done. Her mature 29-run knock, alongside valuable contributions from Nayan Anil and Saya Channa, powered Oman to a first innings total of 157-7.
Speaking after the game, Priyanka said,” My role while batting was to stay on the wicket and that happened. There were coaches to back me up and give me the message so all thanks to them and my team-mates.” In response, Bahrain could only manage 61-7 at the end of their 20 overs. Abeera Waris and Deepika Bhaskara were the only batters to reach double figures. The hosts were collectively brilliant with the ball in hand, maintaining a disciplined line and length throughout the innings. They inflicted 3 run-outs too, taking full advantage of Bahrain’s indecisive running between the wickets. Priyanka Mendonca starred for Oman with the ball too. She followed up her display in the first innings by picking up 2 wickets in her 3 overs, while giving away just 2 runs. Bhakti Shetty and Saya Channa claimed 1 scalp apiece.
On her bowling performance, Priyanka added, “I’m very happy with those (bowling) figures but it was just a lucky day for me. We still have more matches to come and I hope for the best in those.” All in all, Bahrain were outclassed in all departments, in what was their first ever T20 International. With 4 matches to go, they will no doubt look to grow into the tournament and gain some valuable experience in the process. Oman on the other hand got off to the perfect start in the GCC Women’s T20i Championship Cup. They face Saudi Arabia next.
UAE DOMINATE
In the second game of the day, the UAE looked thoroughly dominant in their 8-wicket victory over Qatar. Electing to bat after winning the toss, Qatar could only muster a first innings total of 75-8. Saachi Dhadwal top scored with 27 runs. The UAE bowling attack was excellent as a whole, but the standout performer was undoubtedly Khushi Sharma, who ended the day with jawdropping figures of 4-4. The second innings saw the UAE chase the target down with 71 balls to spare. Kavisha Egodage led the scoring for them with a 30-ball half century.
BRIEF SCORES:
Oman 157-7 in 20 overs (Sakshi Vijaya Shetty 39 (30b, 5×4, 1×6) Priyanka Mendonca 29 (27b, 2×4; Tharanga Gajanayake 18-3) beat Bahrain 61-7 in 20 overs (Abeera Waris 14 (37b,1×4); Priyanka Mendonca 2-2) by 96 runs. Qatar 75-8 in 20 overs (Saachi Dhadwal 27 (36b, 4×4); Khushi Sharma 4-4) lost to UAE 76-2 in 8.1 overs (Kavisha Nanayakkarewasan Egodage 50 (30b, 9×4); Rochelle Sherlene Quyn 15-1) by 8 wickets.
