The UAE fell just short in their plucky pursuit of a first Women’s T20 World Cup appearance after Sri Lanka finally brought their class to bear in Abu Dhabi.
The national team were giving up nine places in the ICC rankings, as well as years’ worth of experience, to their opposition in the Qualifier semi-final at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
The fixture would decide the final participants in the main event in Bangladesh later this year, after Scotland had beaten Ireland to the penultimate place earlier in the day.
And, for 15.4 overs of their run chase it appeared as though the hosts might be about to cause one of the greatest shocks in the history of the women’s game.
It was at that point, though, that the heroic counter-attack by Esha Oza was halted. The national team’s hopes went with their disconsolate captain, as the Sri Lankans eventually ran out 15-run winners.
Little was expected of the UAE ahead of the game. They had done brilliantly to reach this point, after following up defeats against Ireland and Zimbabwe in their opening group stage games with thrilling wins over Netherlands and Vanuatu.
In their way was a formidable obstacle: a Sri Lanka side well used to big-match pressure, led by one of the world’s leading limited-overs batters, Chamari Athapaththu.
Home supporters knew well the threat posed by the left-handed powerhouse. If they could somehow get her cheaply, maybe the impossible was possible.
That would be to underestimate the excellence of the Sri Lankans, though. In fact, Athapaththu only sparkled briefly, making an even-paced 21 before she became the first of three stumpings for Theertha Satish, off the bowling of Vaishnave Mahesh.
And yet the Sri Lankans were still good enough to post 149 for six from their 20 overs, with Vishmi Gunuratne top scoring with 45.
The importance of the fixture brought some Sri Lankan fans out to support their side at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, and they were evidently excitable.
With three balls to go in the Sri Lanka innings, a couple of overzealous supporters ran on the field of play.
One was carrying a Sri Lanka flag, and they scooted straight back off before encroaching too far into the action, or even before security had twigged.
It was barely noticed by anyone, given that precisely as they were running around the outfield, the UAE were executing a run out.
Indhuja Nandakumar ran out Kavisha Dilhari, before Kavisha Kumari accounted for Nilakshika Silva off the last ball of the innings as the UAE belatedly applied the brakes.
Though the target felt tough, the underdogs attacked it improbably, led by their outstanding captain, Oza.
The opener drilled four huge sixes in a 44-ball stay that was worth 66. While she was there, anything felt possible.
But then, in the 16th over, she was bowled by Udeshika Prabodhani. The manic celebrations of the Sri Lankans showed they realised that was the game.
Oza, by stark contrast, was inconsolable, dropping her bat and gloves before heading down the tunnel to the dressing room.
The UAE required 42 more in 28 balls at that stage. In the end, all they could manage to get to was 134 for seven as Sri Lanka sealed qualification.
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
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Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
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Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
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Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
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3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
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Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
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The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
Tomorrow 2021
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Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community
• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style
“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.
Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term.
From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”
• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International
"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed. Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."
• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."
• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com
"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.
His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.
Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."
• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher
"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen. He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”
• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."
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Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
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Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
