UAE's Esha Oza Crowned ICC Women's Associate Cricketer of the Year
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Synopsis
Esha Oza, the captain of the UAE, has received the ICC Women's Associate Cricketer of the Year award for 2024 after leading her team to success in the Asian Cricket Council Women’s Premier Cup and showcasing remarkable performances in international competitions.
Key Takeaways
- Esha Oza recognized as ICC Women's Associate Cricketer of the Year 2024.
- Led UAE to victory in Asian Cricket Council Women’s Premier Cup.
- Outstanding performance in Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier.
- Consistent scoring with one century and four half-centuries.
- Remarkable unbeaten 114 against Oman.
Dubai, Jan 26 (NationPress) Captain of the United Arab Emirates, Esha Oza, has been honored as the ICC Women's Associate Cricketer of the Year for 2024. She kicked off the year with a bang, leading the UAE to victory in the Asian Cricket Council Women’s Premier Cup, where she emerged as the top scorer and was awarded Player of the Tournament.
The elegant right-hander was instrumental in the UAE’s journey to the knockout rounds of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier later that year. Oza’s remarkable unbeaten innings of 66 runs off just 39 balls propelled her team to triumph over the Netherlands, securing a top-two position in a fiercely contested Group B.
In the semifinals, Oza nearly orchestrated a stunning upset, scoring 66 runs from 44 balls against the eventual champions, Sri Lanka, as the UAE narrowly missed out on a remarkable victory in Abu Dhabi.
This right-handed batter displayed outstanding consistency, reaching double figures in all but one of her 20 innings throughout the year, notching up one century and four half-centuries. She amassed a total of 711 runs with an impressive average of 41.82 and a strike rate of 111.79.
Oza’s most notable performance came during the final of the Asian Cricket Council Women’s Premier Cup against Malaysia, but her standout moment in that international tournament occurred earlier when she dominated Oman.
Opening the batting, Oza blasted 16 boundaries in a sensational century, finishing with an unbeaten 114 off just 69 balls, helping her team achieve a commanding total of 176/1. This was her third century in international cricket and marked her highest score in a prolific 2024 season.
