Dubai: Sharjah Cricket Academy women’s team emerged champions of the first Dubai Cricket Council (DCC) Women’s Cricket League following a nail-biting three-run win over International Cricket Council Academy (ICC) at the Fairgrounds Oval in Dubai Men’s College last week.
Batting first, Sharjah Cricket Academy were restricted to 89 for nine in the 20 overs with Chaya Mudgal top-scoring with 22 runs and Humaira Tasneen chipping in with 21 runs. Namita D’Souza of ICC, who emerged as the best bowler of the league, bowled brilliantly to take three wickets for eight runs from her four overs with two maiden overs. She was well supported by Kyna Vedhasinghe with three wickets for six runs.
ICC could have easily reached the target but for some brilliant fielding, especially from Chaya and tight bowling from skipper Subha Srinivasan, who took two timely wickets for 11 runs. Roopa Nagaraj top-scored with 38 runs while Kyna sparkled with the bat scoring 17 runs but their team fell short of the target mainly due to three run-outs.
Speaking to Gulf News, Mohammad Hyder Ali, coach of the Sharjah Cricket Academy and also the coach of the UAE national women’s team, said: “This tournament has come at a right time when women cricketers here wanted a stage to display their skills. After UAE had won the GCC Cup in Oman recently there has been a huge increase in enthusiasm among women to play the game. I would like all councils to step forward and organise more women’s cricket tournaments.”
When asked about his academy’s win, Hyder said: “For the last 10 years, this academy been working hard to groom women cricketers. There are some very talented players like Nisha Ali who has come from Mumbai after representing Air India. Our captain Subha played for Tamil Nadu women’s team.
“Former UAE captain Natasha Michael too has returned to the UAE and joined the team. What women cricketers here need is an understanding of the game - like going back or front depending on the length of deliveries and I have managed to guide them correctly. Being the UAE team coach, I am delighted with the talent in ICC as well as GMC Academy teams.”
GMC finished third but their player Chamani Sevevirathane bagged the Player of the Tournament award thanks to her all-round performance.
