Esha Oza says Women's Asia Cup defeat to India part of learning curve for UAE

National team lose by 78 runs in Dambulla after opening setback against Nepal

UAE captain Esha Oza made 38 off 36 deliveries in her side's 78-run defeat to India in the Women's Asia Cup match at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka, on July 21, 2024. All photos: ACC / CREIMAS

UAE skipper Esha Oza in action against India.

Kavisha Kumari made 40 not out off 32 balls.

Pooja Vastrakar of India celebrates the wicket of Rinitha Rajith of the UAE.

Samaira Dharnidharka of the UAE plays a shot.

Theertha Satish of the UAE drives.

Tanuja Kanwar of India bowls.

Esha Oza of the UAE.

Rinitha Rajith of the UAE was out for 7.

The UAE's Esha Oza plays a ramp shot.

Deepti Sharma of India celebrates the wicket of Samaira Dharnidharka of the UAE.

Renuka Singh Thakur of India.

Deepti Sharma of India celebrates the wicket of Samaira Dharnidharka of the UAE.

Theertha Satish of the UAE.

Esha Oza, the UAE captain, said the national team had learnt much despite their hefty defeat to India in the Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

India racked up their highest ever T20 international score in the course of the 78-run win in Dambulla.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh both made half centuries as India made 201-5, which was the first time they had passed the 200-run mark in the format.

The UAE did not get close in reply, reaching 123-7, but Oza was sanguine about how it had gone against the multiple Asia Cup champions.

“We saw first-hand how to go about building an innings, and also how to finish games,” Oza said.

“These are the things we need to apply in our game as well. We have a fair idea of what we need to work on. We have been using this as an experience for how to learn that.”

The build-up to the game could not have gone much worse for the national team, as they had been beaten by Nepal in the opening game on Friday.

The fixture against the defending champions, many of whose players are heroes for the UAE team members, was always likely to be a tough assignment.

In the lead-up to the competition, Oza had pointed out that it represented an opportunity, too. Excel, and maybe the franchises of the Women’s Premier League would take note.

“If you do well against India, you never know,” Oza said ahead of the tournament.

“It is T20 cricket, and anyone can beat anyone on a given day. If you do, things can take off from there.

“Ahmed sir [Raza, the UAE coach] spoke to everyone about that. If you do really well on that day, you might get picked for those tournaments as well.

“That is definitely going to help your cricket, and it is going to help UAE cricket as well.

“You really want to do well, but we need to stick to what we do best. We shouldn’t change the way we play and just go for it wildly.”

Despite the substantial margin of defeat, at least a couple of the UAE players offered some resistance.

Oza herself made 38 from 36 opening the batting, and Kavisha Kumari ended on 40 not out off 32 having earlier been the pick of the UAE bowlers.

“You are never satisfied when you play against such a good standard of opposition, and it is about staying in the game as long as possible,” Oza said.

“If you get early wickets, that is a great start, but you have to make sure you are taking the 10, not just the three. We needed to take more wickets.

“We made a better score [than in the opener against Nepal] against a better side. That means we did learn from the mistakes we made in the first game.

“We have one more game against Pakistan coming up, so it is about learning from this and trying to apply it in that game.”