The UAE Women’s team makes history by chasing down Saudi Arabia’s total in just five balls.

5 Balls, 1 Massive Victory

how they say cricket is a game of “glorious uncertainties”? Well, what just happened in the ACC Women’s T20 Premier Cup 2026 takes that saying to a whole new level. If you blink, you might literally miss the entire match!

The UAE Women’s team didn’t just win their game against Saudi Arabia—they completely rewrote the record books by finishing the match in just five balls.

Honestly, it’s the kind of story that sounds like a glitch in a video game, but it actually happened on the field. Let’s break down how this wild afternoon in cricket unfolded.

A Tough Day for Saudi Arabia

The match started with the UAE winning the toss and deciding to bowl first. It turned out to be the best decision they could have made. From the very first over, the UAE bowlers were absolutely relentless. They didn’t give the Saudi batters an inch of space.

It was painful to watch for Saudi fans, as not a single batter managed to reach double digits. The highest score was just 9 runs by their captain, Mashal Waqas. The rest of the team struggled to find any rhythm, and they were eventually bundled out for a tiny total of 25 runs in 15.3 overs. While the Saudi team will want to forget this performance, you have to give credit to the UAE bowlers for being so disciplined and accurate.

The 5-Ball Chase (Yes, Really!)

Now, everyone expected the UAE to win, but no one—and I mean no one—expected them to do it this fast. When the UAE openers walked out to chase 26 runs, they clearly had a plane to catch or somewhere else to be, because they were in a massive hurry!

Saudi Arabia’s bowler, Mah Noor Amir, had a bit of a nightmare start, giving away 11 extra runs in the very first over through wides and no-balls. Seeing the opportunity, UAE’s aggressive opener, Esha Oza, decided to finish things right then and there. She smashed 15 runs off just 5 balls, ending the game with a beautiful boundary.

In total, the UAE reached 28 runs in just 0.5 overs. The match was over before the fans could even finish their first cup of tea! It was an incredible display of power and confidence.

Breaking Records and Making History

This win isn’t just a “good result”—it’s a historic one. With this victory, the UAE Women’s team has tied for the second-fastest win in the history of International T20 cricket.

Before this, Nepal held a similar record for chasing down a target against the Maldives in 5 balls. While teams like Rwanda and Tanzania have managed to win in 4 balls in the past, seeing the UAE join this elite list is a huge deal for cricket in the Middle East. It shows just how much the gap is widening between the top-tier associate nations and the newcomers.

What’s Next for the UAE?

The UAE team didn’t stop there. They carried this momentum into their next game against Oman, where they bowled them out for 64 and chased it down in the 7th over. Thanks to these back-to-back dominant performances, they are now sitting comfortably at the top of Group B with a massive net run rate of 10.575.

This tournament is a big deal because it’s a pathway to the Asia Cup. The way the UAE is playing right now, they look like a serious threat to the bigger teams.

Why This Matters

Stories like this are so important for women’s cricket, Ashwini. It highlights the growth of the game in regions where cricket isn’t the traditional sport. It shows that the players are becoming more athletic, more aggressive, and more professional.

The 5-ball victory will be talked about for years to come, not just as a statistical anomaly, but as a sign that the UAE Women’s team is a force to be reckoned with. It’s an exciting time to be a cricket fan!