Thailand and United Arab Emirates (UAE) registered thorough wins in Monday night’s matches of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier at Tolerance Oval and Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The wins kept alive the teams’ hopes of a place in the tournament’s semi-finals.

At Tolerance Oval, Thailand bested Uganda by nine wickets, while UAE claimed an emphatic, 10-wicket victory under the Zayed Cricket Stadium lights.

Both matches were dominated by the bowlers of the winning teams, who ripped through their opponents’ batting line-ups with superb pace and spin bowling displays.

Equally, UAE’s openers ensured that their bowlers’ hard work paid off, with a scintillating chase led by captain Esha Oza’s outstanding 66 not-out.

Uganda vs Thailand

Thailand’s bowlers proved their captain Naruemol Chaiwai’s decision of fielding first right, by producing a sensational bowling display that blew away the Uganda batting line-up. After a 17-run opening stand, Uganda collapsed to 62-all out in 17.4 overs.

Only three batters Rita Musamali (24), captain, Janet Mbabazi (14) and opener, Prosscovia Alako (10), reached double figures as Thailand’s bowlers kept making inroads.

All-rounder, Nattaya Boochatham, who shared the new ball with Chanida Sutthiruang, took two wickets for eight runs in 2.4 overs with her probing off-spinners. Pacer, Sutthiruang, was equally good as she returned her own pair of scalps for 10 runs in her four overs.

Left-arm spinner, Thipatcha Putthawong, maintained the stranglehold on Uganda’s batters, with two wickets.

Thailand chased down the target with consummate ease. Seasoned batter, Natthakan Chantham, played some delightful shots in her unbeaten 34 off 43 balls (five fours) to earn the Player of the Match award. She shared a 30-run opening stand with Boochatham (12) and an unbeaten, 34-run partnership with Nannapat Koncharoenkai, as the victory was achieved with 51 balls to spare.

Thailand have now won one and lost one match while Uganda have lost two out of their three matches, their only win was against UAE on Saturday. Sri Lanka are at the top of Group A, with Scotland in second place, both teams have won two matches so far.

Netherlands vs UAE

The Netherlands’ decision to bat first backfired as the UAE’s bowlers tore through their batting line-up. The Player of the Match in the win against Vanuatu, Sterre Kalis, fell for a first ball duck to Samira Dharnidharka in the opening over of the match. The loss of the star batter rattled the side as UAE’s bowlers tightened their grip.

Netherlands were reduced to 49 for four and seemed to recover well when they reached 82 for four in the 14^th over.

The match took a dramatic turn however, when Netherlands lost four wickets for the addition of just three runs, 82 for four tripping to 85 for eight in a space of 11 balls. The last two wickets added 16 runs as Netherlands finished their 20 overs at a disappointing 101 for nine.

Dharnidharka was the pick of the UAE bowlers, her seam bowling earned her three wickets for 11 runs in four overs. Khushi Shamra and Vaishnave Mahesh took two wickets each, both conceded 16 runs in their three and four-over spells respectively.

Robine Rijke’s 44 (36 balls, five fours, one six) was the only notable performance with the bat for the Dutch.

UAE’s openers got off to an aggressive start in their batting reply, with Oza leading the way with a brilliant knock of 66 off 39 deliveries (nine fours, two sixes). The right-hander displayed her incredible shot range in a brisk innings which helped UAE improve their net run-rate considerably, following their defeats to Ireland and Zimbabwe in their opening matches. Oza finished the match with a big six over wide mid-wicket as UAE completed the chase with 49 balls to spare.

Oza’s opening partner Theertha Satish provided her wonderful support with an unbeaten 36 off 33 balls. Satish stroked five fours in her innings as the helpless Netherlands bowlers finished the innings wicket-less.

The big win keeps the UAE’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals from Group B alive. Netherlands, who defeated Vanuatu by 100 runs in their opening match, will now need to come out firing at all cylinders against Zimbabwe and Ireland, as the battle for the top two spots heats up.

Scores in brief:

Match 11:

Thailand beat Uganda by nine wickets

Uganda 62 all out in 17.4 overs (Rita Musamali 24, Janet Mbabazi 14; Thipatcha Putthawong 2-7, Nattaya Boochatham 2-8, Chanida Sutthiruang 2-10)

Thailand 64 for 1 in 11.3 overs (Natthakan Chantham 34 not out, Nattaya Boochatham 15, Nannapat Koncharoenkai 12 not out; Sarah Akiteng 1-18)

Player of the Match – Natthakan Chantham

Match 12:

UAE beat Netherlands by 10 wickets

Netherlands 101 for 9 in 20 overs (Robine Rijke 44; Samira Dharnidharka 3-11, Vaishnave Mahesh 2-16, Khushi Sharma 2-16)

UAE 104 for no loss in  11.5 overs (Esha Oza 66 not out, Theertha Satish 36 not out)

Player of the Match – Esha Oza

(ICC)