UAE Keep Women's Asia Cup Hopes Alive with Dominant Win as Injured Khushi Sharma Cheers from Sidelines

The UAE crushed Indonesia to keep alive their hopes of a semi-final place at the Women's Asia Cup, while making sure to remind one of their injured colleagues that she remains firmly in their thoughts.

This tournament has been a bittersweet experience for Khushi Sharma. The all-rounder was a voluble presence in the home dugout during Friday night's six-wicket win at the Dubai International Stadium. Her enthusiasm as the lead cheerleader for the national team is impressive, especially given she remains unsure when her extended spell on the sidelines will finally end. It has been two years since she suffered a knee injury on national duty during the last Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. Following two operations, she is still consigned to watching from the sidelines.

Despite her frustrations, her teammates are thrilled to have her alongside them for this campaign. "It's been tough on her with her rehab process because it's been so long," said Heena Hotchandani, the UAE left-arm spinner. "She's had multiple surgeries trying to get back to the field. But having her around the team, cheering us on the way out, whenever batters are walking in, just in terms of morale, I think that really helps us."

Hotchandani added, "It's good on her as well, because she feels that she's right back into the team. Fingers crossed, hopefully it is only another few months till she's back with us playing for UAE."

Hotchandani herself played a key role in the resounding win over Indonesia, taking 2-6 in her four overs. She also claimed a fine catch off the second legal delivery of the game off the bowling of Suraksha Kotte, at which point the tourists were already two wickets down with just one run on the board. Kotte finished with three wickets, while Hotchandani, Esha Oza, and Vaishnave Mahesh each took two apiece as Indonesia were bowled out for 73.

The national team chased down the target with 41 balls to spare, with Oza top-scoring with 30 runs. If Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in the next match in the pool, the final group match between the UAE and Bangladesh will determine who advances to the knockout stage.

"Getting a win was the first priority for us, no matter the margin," Hotchandani said. "Getting that win was obviously a confidence boost. We take it one game at a time and we're just excited to be on our way to hopefully get another win."