In an unprecedented turn of events in a Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier game between UAE and Qatar in Bangkok, UAE retired out all ten batters at the score of 192 for 0 in 16 overs. It was the first instance of a team retiring out more than two batters in a men's or women's international match. UAE then went on to roll Qatar over for just 29 in an innings that featured seven ducks to seal a massive 163-run win in a match that lasted 27.1 overs.
Since the UAE innings also had eight ducks, the game saw a record 15 ducks, easily the most in a women's T20I.
Opting to bat, UAE openers Esha Oza, also the captain, and Theertha Satish were cruising along in their century partnership, with Oza on 113 and Satish on 74. But then UAE decided to end the innings. Since a declaration is not allowed in limited-overs cricket, Oza, Satish, and eight other batters (without facing a ball) were retired out. As a result, UAE were all out for 192 in 16 overs.
Never seen before in a T20I match
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With clouds looming, the UAE Women pulled off a bold and strategic move - retiring out all 10 batters at 192/0 after just 16 overs.
The result? Qatar crumbled under pressure and were all out for just 29.#UAEvQAT #WomensT20Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/34wox6oMza
Oza had brought up a 51-ball century - her fourth in T20Is - and Satish had also raced to her fifty off 31 balls as they took the team past 150 in 14 overs. Oza struck 14 fours and five sixes while Satish collected 11 fours, and it was when Oza had smashed three fours in four balls to end the 16th over - with the team's run rate reading 12 - that they decided to walk off. UAE's 192, as a result, became the highest all-out score in a women's T20I.
The National reported that the move came about because of impending storms at the venue, prompting UAE to seek a way to wrap up victory quickly. With five overs of both innings needing to be completed for a curtailed game to end with a result, UAE checked with the match officials if they could end their innings by means of mass retirement. Upon getting their nod, UAE coach Ahmed Raza asked the entire team to pad up; they then went out in a succession of pairs that returned without facing a ball.
UAE then began bowling with a sense of urgency.
"We got through our first five overs quickly, because that is what you need to constitute a T20 game," Raza told The National. "It was drizzling throughout the innings but our bowlers managed to get all 10 wickets, which was great, and we got the two crucial points.
"Our actions were by no means to disrespect our opposition or cricket. Cricket runs in my blood, it is my passion, and is everything to me.
"Everything which happened was within the laws and was well communicated to the match ref and the reserve umpire."
Qatar lasted just 11.1 overs as only three batters were able to open their accounts, and only one of them went past 5. Opener Rizpha Bano Emmanuel top-scored with 20 and saw four wickets fall in front of her in five overs as left-arm spinner Michelle Botha finished with 3 for 11. Once Emmanuel was run-out in the eighth over on 26 for 5, Qatar lasted only 20 more balls and added just three more runs to the total.
May 11, GMT 1215 The report was updated with details of UAE's move.
