New Delhi: In an extraordinary turn of events during the Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) women’s team pulled off one of the most bizarre tactics the sport has seen. While playing Qatar in Bangkok, UAE posted a massive total of 192 runs without losing a wicket and then suddenly ended their innings with all ten batters ‘retired out’.
The UAE took the decision because of the looming threat of rain. With weather conditions uncertain and a possibility of the game being washed out, which would have resulted in both teams sharing points, UAE made a bold call. After openers Esha Rohit Oza and Theertha Satish stitched a record 192-run stand, the entire batting unit walked off voluntarily. Oza’s explosive 113 off 55 balls and Satish’s quickfire 74 off 42 set the stage for this never-seen-before decision.
UAE effectively ended their innings in a bid to get Qatar to bat early rather than risking a no-result due to rain, increasing the chances of a result being recorded.
Never seen before in a T20I match 😮
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
— FanCode (@FanCode) May 10, 2025
Tactical brilliance pays off
The plan worked perfectly for the UAE as Qatar collapsed on just 29 runs and couldn’t chase the total; 193. Only Rizpha Emmanuel managed to put up some resistance, scoring 20 of those runs while the rest of the team struggled against UAE’s bowling unit. Michelle Botha led the charge with three wickets, and Katie Thompson chipped in with two.
With this crushing 163-run win, UAE secured their second consecutive victory in the tournament and now sits at the top of the points table. Thailand follow them in second place with three points while Qatar having played just one game are at the bottom.
The match that could have been an ordinary one turned into a historic moment, marking the first instance in cricket history where an entire batting unit retired out. It was a quirky yet strategic move that underlined the evolving nature of the shortest format and adding a new layer to T20 strategies.
UAE Women declared all 10 batters retired out in 163-run win over Qatar in WT20 Asia Qualifiers, then bowled them out for 29 to win by 163 runs in Bangkok. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
