Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier: 10 retired outs, 8 ducks help UAE counter rain threat in bizarre game against Qatar

UAE womens Cricket (Source: UAE cricket)

The produced a sensational 163-run win over Qatar in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Asia Region Qualifier, using an extraordinary strategy that saw all 10 of their batters retire out in a rain-threatened clash in Bangkok on Saturday, May 10.

Placed in Group B of the Asia Region Qualifier, the UAE entered the match against Qatar needing a win to progress to the Super 3 stage, having already defeated Malaysia. However, with the prediction of rain that could play a spoilsport to their qualification chances and no scope for an innings declaration in T20 Internationals, UAE captain Esha Oza and her team used a never-seen-before tactic to outplay both weather and opposition.

Winning the toss and opting to bat, UAE got off to a solid start. Oza played a brilliant knock, smashing 113 off just 55 balls, lacing her innings with 14 fours and five sixes. Her opening partner, Theertha Satish, added 74 off 42 deliveries. The duo put on an unbeaten 192-run stand in just 16 overs, with UAE scoring 12 runs per over.

At that point, instead of continuing the batting innings, UAE’s batters began retiring out, to forcibly end the innings and give their bowlers time to bowl 10 overs and have a chance for a result in case rain stopped play. Since T20I rules do not allow for a declaration as in Test cricket, this was their only viable option.

Each of the remaining eight batters walked in and retired out without facing a single ball, resulting in eight diamond ducks and a final team score of 192/10 in 16 overs, without a single actual dismissal. This was the first instance in T20I history where an entire team was retired out.

In reply, UAE bowlers came all guns blazing and bundled out Qatar for just 29 in 11.1 overs. Michelle Botha was the pick of the bowlers, with her three-wicket haul. While Oza, Heena Hotchandani, Katie Thompson, and others chipped in. Qatar’s innings featured seven ducks, and no batter except Rizpha Emmanuel (20) reached double figures.

The match saw a total of 15 ducks, a record for a women's T20I. With the victory, UAE topped Group B with four points and advanced to the Super 3 stage. The top two teams from this next round will be promoted to the Global Qualifier, keeping UAE in contention for a place at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England.