If ever anyone needed proof that cricket is a great leveller, then consider the case of Vaishnave Mahesh.
On Monday night, the spin-bowler had been sobbing inconsolably to her parents after UAE’s dream of playing at the T20 World Cup had been extinguished.
The 15-year-old’s leg-spin had met with an onslaught from Papua New Guinea’s batters, in a loss that pushed a chance of reaching the semi-finals of the Qualifier in Abu Dhabi beyond the home team’s reach.
A day later, she had been working out on the treadmill in the gym of the team hotel on Yas Island, when the runner next to her dispensed some wisdom.
Given that the words of encouragement were being offered by Mignon du Preez, who has played more than 260 times for South Africa, it meant a lot.
“I was crying after that game, in tears, but I had a lot of people who came up to me,” Vaishnave said.
“Theertha [Satish], my captain [Chaya Mughal], and even Mignon du Preez came up to me and said, ‘One bad game doesn’t define a bowler.’
“That really picked me up. Even after that, we went to the gym and she was talking to me. All three of my coaches, Murali [Sockalingham, at her academy in Dubai], GS Mukund in India, and my dad, they all gave me good encouragement.
“They just said, ‘One game doesn’t matter, you always have the next game.’ That is how I picked up confidence.”
Her response was immaculate. Two nights after the heartbreak against PNG, UAE were back in action.
Their task was a daunting one, against a Test-playing nation – Zimbabwe – who had beaten the national team in a T20I a week earlier in Dubai.
Despite the odds, UAE were fearless. Vaishnave was the standout as they restricted their higher-ranked opposition to 120 for seven from their 20 overs.
Her contribution with the ball was three for 15 from four overs – and that, too, takes into account going for seven off her final three deliveries.
UAE’s chase was a plucky one, built on two pillars of their batting line up, Esha Oza and Kavisha Kumari.
Kumari was at the crease in the final over when, between her and Vaishnave, the host nation required 14 to win.
Hope seemed to have vanished when they were left with 10 required from the final two balls, only for Zimbabwe to botch their lines in extraordinary fashion.
Nomvelo Sibanda fired a wide down the leg-side. Wicketkeeper Modester Mupachikwa let the ball past her. Vaishnave and Kavisha ran two – then were donated one more via a wild overthrow.
It left Vaishnave on strike with six to get, still with two remaining. She eked out another two from the penultimate ball, then struck the final one past the fine leg fielder and to the boundary rope.
Vaishave deemed it the “most nail-biting game” she has ever been involved in. Given she is just 15, that is only a small sample size, but even seasoned veterans would have said the same.
“That is cricket,” she said. “It is a very unpredictable game. It is a funny game, and you don’t know what is going to happen in the next match.
“It was always in my mind to try to come back stronger and be a match-winner for the team.”
Kavisha was named player of the match for her innings of 41 not out, but thought nothing of entrusting her young colleague to take strike at the end.
“I don’t think either of us thought about much except winning,” Vaishnave said.
“That was what was in our mind. It was pretty much, whatever happens, just whack the ball.
“At no point of time did I think the game had gone. I am an MS Dhoni fan, being from Chennai.
“You always take the game to the last over. Kavisha really helped me a lot from the other end, saying ‘Come on, Vaish, you can do this.’ Everything motivated me.”
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The five pillars of Islam
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
How they line up for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
3 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
4 Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5 Kevin Magnussen, Haas
6 Romain Grosjean, Haas
7 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
*8 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
9 Carlos Sainz, Renault
10 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren
12 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
13 Sergio Perez, Force India
14 Lance Stroll, Williams
15 Esteban Ocon, Force India
16 Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso
17 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
18 Charles Leclerc, Sauber
19 Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
20 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
* Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth but had a three-place grid penalty for speeding in red flag conditions during practice
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
More on animal trafficking
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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Background: Chemical Weapons
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
