UAE women's coach Murali Sockalingam proud of team's efforts at World Twenty20 Qualifier

Denzil Pinto 15:14 15/07/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Proud of efforts: Murali Sockalingam (second right)

    UAE coach Murali Sockalingam admits their last-over defeat against Papua New Guinea (PNG) effectively cost them the chance to reach the Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier semi-finals but is proud of his team’s efforts in Netherlands.

    The UAE will fly back to Dubai in the early hours of Monday having finished seventh in the eight-team tournament following their thrilling Super Over win against the Dutch on Saturday.

    They could have finished much higher and secured a place in the last-four if it wasn’t for their agonizing two-wicket loss to PNG last Sunday in which the South Western Pacific nation reached their 84-run target with one ball to spare.

    Sockalingam insists the loss was a game that had a big impact on his players.

    “That game cost us,” he said. “If we won that we would have reached the semi-finals and possibly a final. We could have given a good fight against Ireland (in the semi-finals). The game toppled everything for us and the confidence of the players went a bit low.

    “It’s a sad thing. One small thing can change the whole complex of a match and scenario. That game against PNG was a decider. There were a few dropped catches which cost us the game.”

    The UAE’s dream of claiming one of the two available berths for the 2018 showpiece event in West Indies was ended following their loss to Bangladesh in their final group game.

    And after losing to Thailand in the fifth-place play-off, there was something to smile for the UAE as they stunned the Dutch on their own patch for the second time in a week.

    Subha Srinivasan claimed two wickets in the Super Over to deny the Dutch after the scores were level at 146. And despite three defeats from five games, Sockalingam says the UAE can take a lot of positives from their second-ever ICC tournament.

    “The 14 girls who played the tournament have gained valuable experience where they can learn a lot,” he said. “It will help them to practice hard and become better players and for them to be compatible in this level of cricket.

    “We are all part-timers because people go to work and study whereas Bangladesh and Ireland (who qualified) have been playing cricket consistently. Hats off to our girls for their efforts who have put in a lot of work for this tournament. They gave a good account of themselves and performed well especially as we didn’t have any international matches in the preparation and in what was different conditions to what we are used to.”

    Recommended