Sport | Cricket
Natasha, Shruti help UAE get first taste of T20 victory
Natasha Michael and Shruti Pandey steered UAE to their first victory in the Asian Cricket Council Twenty20 Championship with a 49-runs victory over Oman.
- By K.R. Nayar, Senior Reporter
- Published: 22:54 July 5, 2009
- Natasha Michael hit a brilliant 40 to walk away with the Player of the Match award.
- Image Credit: Supplied photo
Dubai: Natasha Michael and Shruti Pandey steered UAE to their first victory in the Asian Cricket Council Twenty20 Championship with a 49-runs victory over Oman.
Michael, who was battling muscle cramps which forced her to pull out of UAE's second match against Malaysia, hit a brilliant 40 to walk away with the Player of the Match award. She got good support from the inform batswoman Pandey, who hit an unbeaten 37.
UAE won the toss and elected to bat first at the Selangor Turf Club. They lost opener Veni Praveen for three.
Meena Shankar and Michael put on 41 runs for the second wicket before Shankar was trapped leg before wicket by Brinda Bhatt for 12.
Speaking about the innings, Michael told Gulf News from Malaysia: "It was indeed a special knock for me because I played this innings despite being injured. I have a muscle twist in my left thigh, but I decided to give my best not focusing on it.
"I took it as a challenge as I had missed the last match against Malaysia and I badly wanted to play a good knock to ensure my team's victory."
Michael hit five boundaries during her 35-ball knock. "I feel so happy that we could win this match with a huge margin.
"This may strengthen our team's chances to make it to the semifinals," added Michael, who had won the best batswoman in the last Asian Championship event.
After Michael fell in the 13th over, Pandey took over and kept the score board moving. Skipper Charvi Bhatt, who top scored in the last match against Malaysia, got run out for three. Sneha Sekhar too got run out after scoring nine runs. UAE thus posted an impressive 141 for 6 in 20 overs.
brief scores UAE beat Oman by 49 runs. UAE 141 for 6 in 20 overs (Natasha Michael 40, Shruti Pandey 37n.o) Oman 92 for 2 in 20 overs) Player of the match: Natasha Michael.Share this article
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