UAE’s opportunity lies in keeping the Sri Lankan batters quiet in the first innings before turning to their own batters, who have impressed in parts in this tournament.
Openers Esha Oza and Theertha Satish have put on 182 runs as a pair, scoring at a rate of over eight runs per over.
In the last two games of the Group stage, both of which UAE won, the duo’s opening stand set the tone for their team. Against Netherlands, Oza and Satish starred with an unbeaten century stand to take UAE home. Against Vanuatu, they put on 44 in the first six overs to help UAE to a strong total.
“One of the moments of the tournament for me was Esha Oza, as the captain of the UAE side, who were down with two losses, playing the way she did against Netherlands,” Mir said.
“The way she struck the ball in that 60-odd knock and later, making sure UAE reached their first semi-final, I think that was a big moment in the competition.”
With the ball, Samaira Dharnidharka has been the star for them with seven wickets. However, no other UAE bowler has over five wickets in the tournament. Oza, the second-highest wicket-taker for UAE, has four scalps. Leg-spinner Vaishnave Mahesh has only two wickets in four games, but has stood out with her economy rate of 5.81.
If UAE manage to pull a surprise over Sri Lanka, it would be their first appearance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
“I’ve really been impressed by UAE in this tournament,” Joyce said.
“They’ve shown real fight. They’ve got a young team, and they’ve had to really fight to get through to the semi-final, where they take on Sri Lanka. They’ve got some exciting young players in their team and the experience they’ve gained throughout the Group stages and whatever happens in the semi-final, that’ll stay with the group of teenagers that’ll go from strength to strength.”