A dominant India will be eager to perfect their tactics further while warding off United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday as that will also push them firmly towards the semi-finals of the Women’s Asia Cup.
The defending champions' supremacy was evident in their facile seven-wicket victory over Pakistan on Friday, and the UAE will require a giant-sized miracle to stop Harmanpreet Kaur’s side.
India currently have two points and a net run rate of +2.29, and a win over UAE will take them to four points. That will also have a positive reflection on their net run rate.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that India will look more inward in their match against the UAE than fretting over the rivals. There were excellent spells from Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar against Pakistan, and their effort would have pleased the team management very much.
India will hope that left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, who returned to the team during the recent home series against South Africa, also joins the wicket-takers’ list on Sunday.
“It was a good spell and there was some assistance from the weather as well," Renuka said later on Friday. "Of course, I could execute all the plans on which I have been working at nets.”
After the bowlers' impressive showing, the Indian batters responded well in hunting down a small target of 109 with 35 balls to spare. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave the team a flying start, hitting 85 runs in just 9.3 overs.
This Asia Cup also presents India's cricketers with a wonderful opportunity to prepare for the Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year. Renuka too said India are looking at this competition as a preparatory ground for the T20 Cup.
“The Asia Cup is a learning experience for us, and the conditions in Bangladesh could be similar. So, this is a good chance for us to get ready for the T20 World Cup,” she said.
