Did UAE Women Cricket Team Make History by Retiring Out Entire Line-up to Defeat Qatar by 163 Runs?

Synopsis
In a groundbreaking strategy, the UAE women’s cricket team retired out their entire lineup during a match against Qatar in the Asia Qualifiers, leading to a monumental 163-run victory. Discover the tactical brilliance and standout performances that marked this historic game.
Key Takeaways
- UAE women's cricket team executed a unique strategy of retiring out their entire lineup.
- Esha Rohit Oza scored a brilliant century, contributing significantly to the team's success.
- The UAE bowlers effectively restricted Qatar to just 29 runs.
- This win solidified UAE's position at the top of the points table.
- The tactical decision was a response to potential weather interruptions.
Bangkok, May 10 (NationPress) In a remarkable turn of events, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) women’s cricket team executed an extraordinary strategy during their match against Qatar in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers 2025 held at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok on Saturday. After showcasing their batting prowess, the entire UAE team opted to retire out to save time and ultimately secured a convincing victory by a staggering 163 runs.
Opening the innings, UAE's dynamic pair, Theertha Satish and captain Esha Rohit Oza, created a solid foundation for their team, amassing a 192-run partnership within just 16 overs. Oza dominated the field with a spectacular 113 runs off 55 deliveries, featuring 14 boundaries and 5 sixes, while Satish contributed significantly with a quickfire 74 off 42 balls.
Faced with potential rain delays and the restrictions of T20 International regulations that prohibit declarations, UAE made a strategic move. Every player donned their gear, entered the field, and promptly retired after a brief appearance at the crease. This tactical maneuver enabled UAE to wrap up their innings swiftly and proceed to bowl before any weather disruptions could interfere. This unusual yet permissible tactic under T20I regulations proved effective.
The outcome of the match remained unaffected by this strategy. UAE’s bowlers efficiently dismantled Qatar’s batting order, bowling them out for a mere 29 runs in just 11.1 overs. The standout performer was left-arm spinner Michelle Botha, who claimed 3 wickets for just 11 runs. Other notable contributions came from Katie Thompson with two wickets, while Esha, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, and Vaishnave Mahesh each took one wicket.
Esha’s exceptional all-round performance earned her the prestigious Player of the Match title, concluding her bowling spell with figures of 1 over, 1 run, and 1 wicket alongside her outstanding century.
This victory propelled the UAE to the top of the points standings with four points and a robust net run rate of +6.998, following their earlier triumph over Malaysia by nine wickets. The UAE is set to face Malaysia again on May 13 at the same venue in Bangkok.
Overall, nine teams are competing in this stage of the qualifiers, divided into three groups of three. The top three teams from each group will progress to the Super Three stage, with the ultimate victor advancing further.